Dr. Peter M.A. Toivonen

Retired - Research Scientist

Posharvest Physiology and Phenomics in Fruit Crops

Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada

4200 Highway #97, Summerland, British Columbia

Current research and/or projects

Postharvest characterization phenotyping of quality in newly released apple and sweet cherry cultivars
Phenotyping of soft scald susceptibility and biochemical markers in seedling populations from specified breeding crosses of apples

Professional activities / interests

Past Chair of USDA NE1036 Regional Project ‘Postharvest Physiology of Fruits’
AAFC Science Advisor to the board of the British Columbia Cherry Association
Vice-Chair of Commission Quality and Postharvest Horticulture for the International Society for Horticultural Science
Editorial Advisory Board Member for Postharvest Biology and Technology
Canadian Representative on PROCINORTE Tree Fruit Task Force

Key publications

MacDonald JL, Toivonen PMA. 2020. "Improving Blueberry Postharvest Quality: Stacking for Optimal Temperature Management." Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada, Summerland, BC. 13021E/F.
2020 - View publication details
MacDonald JL, Toivonen PMA. 2020. "Improving Blueberry Postharvest Quality: Utilizing Temperature Management for Packers." Agriculture & Agri-Food Canada, Summerland, BC. AAFC No. 13022E/F.
2020 - View publication details
MacDonald JL, Toivonen PMA. 2020. "Improving Blueberry Postharvest Quality: Managing the Atmosphere of Shipped Berries." Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada, Summerland, BC. 13023E/F.
2020 - View publication details
Ross, K.A., Toivonen, P.M.A., Godfrey, D.V., Fukumoto, L. (2020). An assessment of the attributes of staccato sweet cherries at harvest and upon storage in relation to orchard growing factors. Canadian Journal of Plant Science, [online] 100(6), 609-628. http://dx.doi.org/10.1139/cjps-2019-0303
2020 - View publication details
Toivonen, P.M.A., Lu, C., Stoochnoff, J. (2019). Postharvest quality implications of preharvest treatments applied to enhance ambrosia™ apple red blush colour at harvest. Canadian Journal of Plant Science, [online] 99(1), 40-49. http://dx.doi.org/10.1139/cjps-2018-0193
2019 - View publication details
McClure, K.A., Gardner, K.M., Douglas, G.M., Song, J., Forney, C.F., Delong, J., Fan, L., Du, L., Toivonen, P.M.A., Somers, D.J., Rajcan, I., Myles, S. (2018). A genome-wide association study of apple quality and scab resistance. Plant Genome, [online] 11(1), http://dx.doi.org/10.3835/plantgenome2017.08.0075
2018 - View publication details
Luo, H., Song, J., Toivonen, P., Gong, Y., Forney, C., Campbell Palmer, L., Fillmore, S., Pang, X.Q., Zhang, Z.Q. (2018). Proteomic changes in ‘Ambrosia’ apple fruit during cold storage and in response to delayed cooling treatment. Postharvest Biology and Technology, [online] 137 66-76. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.postharvbio.2017.11.011
2018 - View publication details
Cliff, M.A., Toivonen, P.M.A. (2017). Sensory and quality characteristics of ‘Ambrosia’ apples in relation to harvest maturity for fruit stored up to eight months. Postharvest Biology and Technology, [online] 132 145-153. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.postharvbio.2017.05.015
2017 - View publication details
Toivonen, P.M.A. and Cliff, M.A. 2017. Progress Report for Project ID number J-000379. P020-BCFGA- Canadian Tree Fruit Products Development - Activity 4: Update on Improving Ambrosia™ Apple Quality after Long Term Storage February 2017. AAFC Agri-Innovations Project Annual Activity Report, 16 pp.
2017 - View publication details
Cliff, M.A., Stanich, K., Toivonen, P.M.A. (2017). Evaluation of the sensory, physicochemical, and visual characteristics of a sweet cherry cultivar treated in a commercial orchard with a cherry cuticle supplement when a rainfall event does not occur. HortTechnology, [online] 27(3), 416-423. http://dx.doi.org/10.21273/HORTTECH03621-16
2017 - View publication details
Stanich, K., Cliff, M.A., and Toivonen, P.M.A. (2016). Sensory profiling of Ambrosia apples produced using reflective row cover or foliar phosphorous spray at two orchards in the Similkameen Valley: A project report. AAFC Agri-Innovation Program. July 2016. (Report)
2016 - View publication details
Cliff, M.A., Stanich, K., and Toivonen, P.M.A. (2016 Confidential). Sensory profiling of Ambrosia apples from static low oxygen and dynamic controlled atmosphere storage followed by an air and/or air plus oxygen period – A confidential report. AAFC Agri-Innovation Program. 11 pp. August 9 2016. (Report)
2016 - View publication details
O'Gorman, D.T., Haag, P., Urbez-Torres, J.R., Forge, T.A., Nelson, L.M., and Toivonen, P.M.A. (2016). Characterization and management of two cherry diseases in the Okanagan: cherry slip skin and cherry replant disease. AIP-ASP reporting: BC Cherry Growers Association/Summerland Varieties Corp - Interim Report, January 1,2016. (Report)
2016 - View publication details
O`GORMAN D.T. , WALKER M., FRASERJ., BOULE J., ÚRBEZ-TORRES J.R. AND TOIVONEN P. M. 2016. Unravelling cherry slip-skin maceration disorder. BC-CPS meeting 2016 Summerland. Canadian J. of Plant Path. Vol. 38: 533-540
2016 - View publication details
McClure, K.A., Gardner, K.M., Toivonen, P.M.A., Hampson, C.R., Song, J., Forney, C.F., DeLong, J., Rajcan, I., Myles, S. (2016). QTL analysis of soft scald in two apple populations. Horticulture Research, [online] 3 http://dx.doi.org/10.1038/hortres.2016.43
2016 - View publication details
McClure, K.A., Gardner, K.M., Toivonen, P.M.A., Hampson, C.R., Lannard, B.L., Rajcan, I., Song, J., and Myles, S. (2015). "Genetic mapping using next-generation DNA sequencing in apple.", Canadian Plant Genome Workshop (CPGW 2015), Victoria, BC, Canada, August 1-13., 2015.
2015 - View publication details
Toivonen, P.M.A., DeLong, J.M., Song, J., and Forney, C.F. (2015). "Peel Maturity only Correlates with Soft Scald in a Highly Susceptible Orchard of Ambrosia™ apple.", American Society for Horticultural Science (ASHS) Annual Conference 2015, New Orleans, Louisiana, USA, August 4-7, 2015.
2015 - View publication details
Hampson, C.R., McKenzie, D.-L., Herbert, L.C., and Toivonen, P.M.A. (2015). "Resistance of new sweet cherry cultivars to fruit pitting.", American Society for Horticultural Science (ASHS) Annual Conference 2015, New Orleans, Louisiana, USA, August 4-7, 2015. (Poster)
2015 - View publication details
Toivonen, P.M.A., Lu, C., Bach, S.J., and Delaquis, P.J. (2015). "Hypoxic atmospheres can induce subsequent increases in cutting-induced hydrogen peroxide production by fresh-cut Romaine lettuce.", Acta Horticulturae (ISHS), 1071, pp. 519-526.
2015 - View publication details
Stanich, K., Cliff, M.A., and Toivonen, P.M.A. (2015 Confidential). Evaluation of the sensory characteristics of sweet cherries treated with Parka+™: A confidential report. AAFC Agri-Innovation Program. December 2015. (Report)
2015 - View publication details