Dennis P. Murr,
Professor Emeritus
Education
B.A., Sonoma State University
M.A., Sonoma State University
Ph.D., University of California - Davis
Contact
E.C. Bovey Building
Department of Plant Agriculture
University of Guelph
Guelph Campus
50 Stone Rd. E.,
Guelph, Ontario, Canada
N1G 2W1
Email: dmurr@uoguelph.ca
Physiology and Molecular Biology of Fruit Ripening:
Postharvest effects and mechanism of action of hypoxia and ethylene.
Research Interests:
Research focuses on the use of anti-ethylene technologies like 1-methylcyclopropene (1-MCP; SmartFreshTM) in conjunction with modified O2 and CO2 storage atmospheres in managing fruit ripening and senescence. Recent investigations involve (1) determining the molecular basis of hypoxia and 1-MCP on cell signaling during fruit development, and (2) delineating molecular and metabolic differences of fruit cell mechanisms in response to hypoxia, 1-MCP and ethylene.
Selected Publications:
Of the 340 research contributions published over a period of 35 years are 99 refereed papers, 6 book chapters, 80 conference papers, 150 non-refereed publications, and 5 patents/intellectual properties.
Following are some selected references from the past 10 years.
MacLean, D.D., D.P. Murr and J.R. DeEll. (2010). Analysis of 'McIntosh' apple flavonoid and antioxidant levels. Acta Hort. 857: 243-250.
Singh, H.P., D.P. Murr, G. Paliyath and J.R. DeEll. (2010). Aroma volatile biosynthesis in ‘Gala’ apples stored in controlled atmosphere. Acta Hort. 857: 115-122.
DeEll, J.R., J.T. Ayres and D.P. Murr. (2010). Commercial application of 1-methylcyclopropene affects storability and disorders of ‘Empire’ apples. Acta Hort. 857: 107-114.
Paliyath, G., D.P. Murr, A. Handa and S. Lurie (Editors). (2008). Postharvest Biology and Technology of Fruits, Vegetables, and Flowers. Blackwell Publishing Ltd., Oxford, UK, 496 p.
DeEll, J.R., D.P. Murr and B. Ehsani-Moghaddam. (2008). Quality changes of ‘Shiro’ yellow plums in response to treatment with 1-methylcyclopropene. J. Food Qual. 31(4): 514-525.
DeEll, J.R., D.P. Murr and B. Ehsani-Moghaddam. (2008). 1-Methylcyclopropene treatment modifies postharvest behaviour of ‘Fantasia’ nectarines. Can. J. Plant Sci. 88(4): 753-758.
DeEll, J.R., J.T. Ayres and D.P. Murr. (2008). 1-Methylcyclopropene concentration and timing of postharvest application alters the ripening of ‘McIntosh’ apples during storage. HortTechnology 18: 624-630.
MacLean, D.D., D.P. Murr, J.R. DeEll, A.B. Mackay and E.M. Kupferman. (2007). Inhibition of PAL, CHS, and ERS1 in ‘Red d’Anjou’ Pear (Pyrus communis L.) by 1-MCP. Postharvest Biol. Technol. 45(1): 46-55.
DeEll, J.R., J.T. Ayres, and D.P. Murr. (2007). 1-Methylcyclopropene influences ‘Empire’ and ‘Delicious’ apple quality during long-term commercial storage. HortTechnology 17(1): 46-51.
Ahn, T., G. Paliyath and D.P. Murr. (2007). Antioxidant enzyme activities in apple varieties and resistance to superficial scald development. Food Res. Int’l. 40(8): 1012-1019.
MacLean D.D., D.P. Murr, J.R. DeEll, and C.R. Horvath. (2006). Postharvest variation in apple (Malus ×domestica Borkh.) flavonoids following harvest, storage, and 1-MCP treatment. J. Agric. Food Chem. 54: 870-878.
Yuan, H., L. Chen, G. Paliyath, A. Sullivan, D.P. Murr and Z. Novotna. 2006. Immunohistochemical localization of phospholipase D in strawberry fruits. Sci. Hort. 109: 35-42.
Yuan, H., L. Chen, G. Paliyath, A. Sullivan and D.P. Murr. (2006). Differential incorporation of a fluorescent phospholipid into strawberry fruit protoplast membrane in the presence of calcium and IAA. Physiol. Mol. Biol. Plant. 12: 35-42.
Lévesque, P.G., J.R. DeEll and D.P. Murr. (2006). Sequential controlled atmosphere storage for ‘McIntosh’ apples. HortScience 41(5): 1322-1324.
Paliyath, G. and D.P. Murr. (2006). Biochemistry of Fruits. In: Y.H. Hui, Ed. Food Biochemistry and Food Processing, Iowa State Univ. Press (Blackwell Publishing, Inc.), Ames, Iowa, pp. 487-514.
DeEll, J.R., D.P. Murr, R. Mueller, L.Wiley and M.D. Porteous. (2005). Influence of 1-methylcyclopropene (1 MCP), aminoethoxyvinylglycine (AVG), diphenylamine (DPA), and CO2 concentration during storage on Empire apple quality. Postharvest Biol. Technol. 38(1): 1-8.
DeEll, J.R., D.P. Murr, L. Wiley, and R. Mueller. (2005). Interactions of 1-MCP and low oxygen CA storage on apple quality. Acta Hort. 682: 941-948.
Yuan, H., L. Chen, G. Paliyath, A. Sullivan and D.P. Murr. (2005). Characterization of microsomal and mitochondrial phospholipase D activities and cloning of a phospholipase D alpha cDNA from strawberry fruits. Plant Physiol. Biochem. 43: 535-547.
MacLean, D.D., D.P. Murr and J.R. DeEll. (2003). A modified TOSC assay for antioxidants in plant tissues. Postharvest Biol. Technol. 29(2): 183 – 194.
Rupasinghe, H.P.V., K.C. Almquist, T.E. Elthon, G. Paliyath, D.P. Murr and A.C. Purvis. 2003. Involvement of the alternative oxidase (AOX) in superficial scald in apple: isolation and sequence analysis of the apple AOX1 cDNA. Acta Hort. 628: 481- 486.
DeEll, J. R., D.P. Murr, L. Wiley and M.D. Porteous. (2003). 1-Methylcyclopropene (1 MCP) increases CO2 injury in apples. Acta Hort. 600: 270 – 280.
Rupasinghe, H.P.V., G. Paliyath and D.P. Murr. (2003). Biosynthesis of isoprenoids in higher plants. Physiol. Mol. Biol. Plant 9: 19-28.
Whiting, M.D., H.P.V. Rupasinghe, D.P. Murr, G. Paliyath and D.D. Rowan. (2003). Effect of a-farnesene and its metabolites on membrane properties of ‘Delicious’ apples. Acta Hort. 628: 627-633.
Rupasinghe, H.P.V., K.C. Almquist, G. Paliyath and D.P. Murr. (2001). Cloning of hmg1 and hmg2 cDNAs encoding 3-hydroxy-3-methylglutaryl coenzyme A reductase (HMGR) and their expression and activity in relation to a-farnesene synthesis in apple. Plant Physiol. Biochem. 39: 933-947.
Rupasinghe, H.P.V., G. Paliyath and D.P. Murr. (2000). Partial purification and properties of a- farnesene synthase from apples. J. Amer. Soc. Hort. Sci. 125: 111-119.
Rupasinghe H.P.V., D.P. Murr, G. Paliyath and J.R. DeEll. (2000). Suppression of a-farnesene synthesis in ‘Delicious’ apples by aminoethoxyvinylglycine (AVG) and 1-methylcyclopropene (1-MCP). Physiol. Mol. Biol. Plant 6: 195-198.
