Marie Thérèse Charles

Research scientist, Postharvest Physiology

In accordance with the strategies of the Science and Technology Branch and in response to industry needs and consumer demand, the post-harvest physiology research team is developing approaches to reduce the use of agrochemicals. Dr. Charles' research projects focus on clean and environmentally friendly technologies such as physical treatments. These technologies are applied at the pre-harvest and post-harvest stages to extend the storage life of fresh fruits and vegetables and increase their content of nutrients and compounds beneficial to human health.

Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada

430 Gouin Boulevard, Saint-Jean-sur-Richelieu, QC

Current research and/or projects

Pre-harvest UV-C treatment as an environmentally-friendly approach to disease control during growth and improvement of post-harvest quality of greenhouse vegetables

Development of a post-harvest UV treatment technology for extending the shelf life of fresh organic fruit and vegetables

The Three Sisters value chain: characterization of the attributes and functionality of native varieties of corn, squash and beans, preservation of genetic material, and prefeasibility of new crop models

Study of resistance induced by UV-C applied pre-harvest to control Xanthomonas campestris pv. Vitians, the agent responsible for bacterial leaf spot

Key publications

Lu, J., Toussaint, V., Charles, M.T., Vigneault, C., and Raghavan, G.S.V. (2009). "Effect of Heat Treatment Uniformity on the Control of Botrytis cinerea on Harvested Tomato.", Transactions of the ASABE, 52(1), pp. 201-211.
2009 - View publication details
Khanizadeh, S., Rékika, D., Ehsani-Moghaddam, B., Tsao, R., Yang, R., Charles, M.T., Sullivan, J.A., Gauthier, L., Gosselin, A., Potel, A.-M., Reynaud, G., and Thomas, É. (2009). "Horticultural Characteristics and Chemical Composition of Advanced Raspberry Lines from Quebec and Ontario.", Food Science and Technology - LWT, 42(4), pp. 893-898. doi : 10.1016/j.lwt.2008.08.016
2009 - View publication details
Charles, M.T., Tano, K., Asselin, A., and Arul, J. (2009). "Physiological basis of UV-C-induced resistance to Botrytis cinerea in tomato fruit: V. Constitutive defence enzymes and inducible pathogenesis-related proteins.", Postharvest Biology and Technology, 51(3), pp. 414-424. doi : 10.1016/j.postharvbio.2008.08.016
2009 - View publication details
Wang, Q., Rékika, D., Charles, M.T., Wang, X., Tsao, R., Yang, R., Hao, Y.-J., and Khanizadeh, S. (2008). "Phenolic Compositions and Antioxidant Activities of Newly Developed Day-neutral Strawberry Lines.", Plants and Soils: Montreal '08: Joint meeting of the CSHS, CSA and Northeastern Branch ASA-CSSA-SSSA, McGill University, Montréal, QC, Canada, July 13-16, 2008. (Poster)
2008 - View publication details
Vigneault, C., Charles, M.T., Toussaint, V., and Trépanier, G. (2008). Qualité et conservation postrécolte de la carotte., Canada. (Book)
2008 - View publication details
Charles, M.T. and Vigneault, C. (2008). Qualité et manutention post-récolte de l’asperge., Canada: Centre de référence en agriculture et agroalimentaire du Québec (CRAAQ), Québec, QC, Canada. (Book)
2008 - View publication details
Wang, Y., Rékika, D., Charles, M.T., Tsao, R., Yang, R., Dong, W., and Khanizadeh, S. (2008). "Distribution of phenolic and antioxidant capacity of strawberry fruit parts.", Plants and Soils: Montreal '08: Joint meeting of the CSHS, CSA and Northeastern Branch ASA-CSSA-SSSA, McGill University, Montréal, QC, Canada, July 13-16, 2008. (Poster)
2008 - View publication details
Chen, L., Raghavan, G.S.V., Charlebois, D., Charles, M.T., and Vigneault, C. (2008). "Non-destructive measurment of tomato quality using visible and near-infrared reflectance spectroscopy.", Canadian Society for Bioengineering CSBE/SCGR 50th Conference and Annual General Meeting, Lonsdale Quay Hotel, Vancouver, BC, Canada, July 13-16, 2008, Paper No. 08-197, pp. 15.
2008 - View publication details
Lu, J., Delaquis, P.J., Vigneault, C., Charles, M.T., Raghavan, G.S.V., Toussaint, V., and Austin, J.W. (2008). "Multidisciplinary approach to postharvest heat treatment of fruits and vegetables.", in Stevens, C. and Khan, V.A. (eds.) - Recent Advances in Agriculture, Research Signpost, Kerala, India, pp. 189-210.
2008 - View publication details
Yu, C., Zhang, M., Charles, M.T., Tsao, R., Lv, D., Rékika, D., Yang, R., and Khanizadeh, S. (2008). "Phenolic Composition and Antioxidant Capacity of Newly Developed June Bearing Strawberry Lines.", Plants and Soils: Montreal '08: Joint meeting of the CSHS, CSA and Northeastern Branch ASA-CSSA-SSSA, McGill University, Montréal, QC, Canada, July 13-16, 2008. (Poster)
2008 - View publication details
Jagadeesh, S.L., Charles, M.T., Gariépy, Y., Raghavan, G.S.V., Goyette, B., and Vigneault, C. (2008). "Effect of UV hormesis on the bioactive components of fresh fruits and vegetables: A case study on tomatoes. P3-3.", 2008 Canadian Institute of Food Science & Technology (CIFST) and AAFC Conference, Delta Prince Edward Hotel, Charlottetown, PEI, Canada, May 25-27, 2008. (Poster)
2008 - View publication details
Zhang, M., Yu, C., Charles, M.T., Bondar, A., Rupasinghe, H.P.V., and Khanizadeh, S. (2008). "Browning Index of New Apple Genotypes Developed for Fresh-cut Processing.", Plants and Soils: Montreal '08: Joint meeting of the CSHS, CSA and Northeastern Branch ASA-CSSA-SSSA, McGill University, Montréal, QC, Canada, July 13-16, 2008. (Poster)
2008 - View publication details
Charles, M.T. and Arul, J. (2008). "Induction of disease resistance in post-harvest tomato fruit by UV-C treatment as alternative to application of fungicides: Physiological basis.", 2008 Canadian Institute of Food Science & Technology (CIFST) and AAFC Conference, Delta Prince Edward Hotel, Charlottetown, PEI, Canada, May 25-27, 2008, # 03-3. (Presentation)
2008 - View publication details
Khanizadeh, S., Tao, S., Zhang, S.L., Tsao, R., Rékika, D., Yang, R., and Charles, M.T. (2008). "Antioxidant activities of newly developed day-neutral and June-bearing strawberry lines.", Journal of Food, Agriculture & Environment (JFAE), 6(2), pp. 306-311.
2008 - View publication details
Lu, J., Toussaint, V., Charles, M.T., Vigneault, C., and Raghavan, G.S.V. (2008). "Effect of heat treatment uniformity on the control of botrytis cinerea on harvested tomato.", 2008 ASABE Annual International Meeting, Rhode Island Convention Center, Providence, RI, USA, June 29-July 2, 2008, Vol. 10, pp. 5984-6006, Paper No. 084681.
2008 - View publication details
Lu, J., Vigneault, C., Charles, M.T., Raghavan, G.S.V., and Goyette, B. (2008). "Effect of Thermodynamic Parameters on Tomato Ripening and Chilling Injury under Heterogeneous Heat Treatment.", 2008 ASABE Annual International Meeting, Rhode Island Convention Center, Providence, RI, USA, June 29-July 2, 2008.
2008 - View publication details
Charles, M.T., Arul, J., and Stevens, C. (2008). "Emerging approaches and technologies to improve the disease resistance of horticultural crops.", in Stevens, C. and Khan, V.A. (eds.) - Recent Advances in Agriculture, Research Signpost, Kerala, India, pp. 99-129.
2008 - View publication details
Ehsani-Moghaddam, B., Charles, M.T., Carisse, O., Khanizadeh, S. (2008). Regulation of superoxide dismutase isoforms in resistant and susceptible strawberry cultivars subjected to leaf spot disease, 41(7), 492-500. http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/03235400600833738
2008 - View publication details
Khanizadeh, S., Tsao, R., Rekika, D., Yang, R., Charles, M.T., Vasantha Rupasinghe, H.P. (2008). Polyphenol composition and total antioxidant capacity of selected apple genotypes for processing, 21(5), 396-401. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.jfca.2008.03.004
2008 - View publication details
Charles, M.T., Goulet, A., and Arul, J. (2008). "Physiological basis of UV-C-induced resistance to Botrytis cinerea in tomato fruit: IV. Biochemical modification of structural barriers.", Postharvest Biology and Technology, 47(1), pp. 41-53. doi : 10.1016/j.postharvbio.2007.05.019
2008 - View publication details