Project Number: 5325-42000-036-04
Project Type: Nonfunded Cooperative Agreement

Start Date: Nov 09, 2009
End Date: May 14, 2010

Objective:
- To test under agricultural field conditions the Guardion-7® GC-TMS; - To combine the unique capabilities of the Plant Mycotoxin Research (PMR) Unit’s in situ volatile organic compound (VOC) collection method with the abilities of the Guardion-7® GC-TMS to one or more specifically designed experiments; and - Determine the parameters of, and put in place, a conditional purchase of the Guardion-7® GC-TMS, and to evaluate its efficacy as an in-field analytical tool for agricultural research.

Approach:
To accomplish the stated objectives and to determine the portability and efficacy of the Guardion-7® GC-TMS for analysis of in situ VOCs the following approaches will be utilized: - Evaluate the damaged and undamaged VOC emissions from a tree-nut commodity over the course of a growing season – at distinct phenological events; - Utilize the in situ small-scale collection method (collection bag, SPME) of the USDA-ARS PMR unit to acquire VOCs; - Utilize the Guardion-7® GC-TMS for immediate, in-field, desorbtion, separation, and identification of collected VOCs; - If conditions allow, apply this approach to a second tree-nut commodity Documents NFCA with Torion Techniologies.