About

Dr. Massimo Iorizzo is a Professor in the Department of Horticultural Science at NC State University, located at 600 Laureate Way, Kannapolis, NC. He holds a PhD and MS from the University of Naples 'Federico II' in Italy. His research focuses on genetics, genomics, germplasm improvement, and breeding of small fruits such as strawberries, blackberries, raspberries, and blueberries, as well as vegetable crops. Dr. Iorizzo investigates the health-promoting phytoactive compounds inherent in fruits and vegetables, and explores strategies for selecting, concentrating, and preserving these phytochemicals. He is a member of the graduate faculty in breeding, genetics, genomics, and bioengineering, with a specific focus on fruit crops (pomology) and vegetable crops (olericulture). His work aims to advance plant breeding and germplasm development to improve crop quality and health benefits.

Research topics

• Biology
• Botany
• Genetics
• Horticulture
• Biotechnology
• Food science
• Computational biology
• Ecology
• Chemistry
• Agroforestry

Selected publications

• Fruit Composition Diversity among the North Carolina Strawberry Core Germplasm Collection

  HortScience · 2026-02-12

  articleOpen access

  Strawberries ( Fragaria ×ananassa ) are highly sought-after fruit because of their flavor, color, and nutritional benefits. The balance of the soluble solids content (SSC) and titratable acidity (Tacid) contribute to the overall strawberry taste and perceived sweetness, while the total monomeric anthocyanin content (TMAC) is the primary basis for fruit color. Although North Carolina has an active strawberry breeding program to develop genotypes adapted to the South Atlantic region of the United States, parental germplasm has not been characterized. In this study, a greenhouse collection of fruit from 268 commercial cultivars and advanced breeding lines was used to characterize fruit composition diversity. Strawberry genotypes (all octoploids) were separated into four distinct clusters based on fruit composition profiles and multivariate analysis results. Genotypes in cluster 1 exhibited the lowest SSC (7.0%), Tacid (0.72%), and TMAC (31.22 mg/100 g), whereas cluster 2 had the second lowest %SSC and %Tacid and highest TMAC (54.57 mg/100 g). Cluster 3 was characterized by high SSC (10.3%) and pH (3.66), and fruit from cluster 4 had the highest average Tacid (1.21%) and lowest pH (3.43). Genotypes from Florida were found in the same cluster, while California genotypes were split among clusters 1 and 2. The first principal components (PCs; PC1 and PC2) accounted for 64.88% of the total variance within total fruit composition, with pH and Tacid contributing to PC1 (91.1%), SSC contributing to PC2 (71.1%), and TMAC associated with PC3 (77.4%). These differences in fruit composition among genotypes in the North Carolina core germplasm collection will be useful in the determination of future crosses in the breeding program.

  PublisherDOI

• Characterization of anthocyanins, phenolics, and flavonoids in a global carrot collection through application of chemometrics and FT-NIR spectroscopy

  Food Chemistry X · 2025-07-01 · 2 citations

  articleOpen accessSenior authorCorresponding

  Purple carrot is an important source of anthocyanins as a natural food dye, yet research advancements in selecting purple cultivars with improved anthocyanin extractable yield and stability remain limited. This study used a large set of purple carrot accessions to characterize anthocyanins, phenolics, and flavonoids, their relationship to tissue-specific accumulation, extraction efficiency, color density, and color stability. A Fourier-transform near-infrared (FT-NIR) spectroscopy method was also developed to evaluate these metabolites. Fully purple roots showed the highest anthocyanin content and extraction efficiency. Non-acylated anthocyanin Cy3XG was identified as a limiting step in the biosynthesis of stable acylated anthocyanins . The sinapoyl-containing glycoside Cy3XSGG was the primary contributor to color density. Ten FT-NIR prediction models were developed to evaluate anthocyanins, chlorogenic, and caffeic acids. These findings support the selection of purple carrot with stable and uniform anthocyanin production and perform quality control in the natural colorant industry. • Fully purple roots accumulate the highest amount of anthocyanin and phenolic acids. • Fully purple roots have the highest anthocyanin extraction efficiency. • Cy3XG is limiting step to accumulate higher amount of stable acylated anthocyanins. • Acylated anthocyanin Cy3XSGG contributes the most to color density. • Ten FT-NIR models predicted anthocyanins and phenolics accurately.

  PublisherDOI

• Deciphering the genetic basis of chlorophyll fluorescence parameters and vegetation indices under heat stress in blueberry

  BMC Plant Biology · 2025-11-20 · 3 citations

  articleOpen accessSenior author

  BACKGROUND: Blueberry (Vaccinium section Cyanococcus) is a commercially important fruit crop. Its cultivation is challenging due to specific climate and soil requirements, with even minor temperature fluctuations potentially affecting growth and fruit yield. Heat stress impairs growth and photosynthesis by causing damage to the photosystem II (PSII) complex. Hence, identifying genomic regions influencing the maximum quantum efficiency of PSII and the overall photosynthetic capacity of plants under heat stress is crucial. RESULTS: In this study, we exposed 266 interspecific cross derivatives of blueberry plants to heat stress in controlled conditions for two consecutive years and evaluated their responses through phenotypic, chlorophyll fluorescence, and vegetation indices measurements. We observed continuous and significant variation for all the measured traits, indicating their quantitative nature. Genome-wide association studies (GWAS) using 126,816 single-nucleotide polymorphisms revealed several candidate genes encoding molecular chaperones, serine-threonine kinases, and DEAD-box proteins, which play critical roles in heat stress responses in plants. Additionally, we identified 10,393 differentially expressed genes (DEGs) from the transcriptomic analysis of V. corymbosum and V. darrowii plants subjected to 6 and 9 hours of heat stress. RNA-Seq data were further confirmed by quantitative real-time PCR analysis of randomly selected genes. Functional characterization through Gene Ontology and pathway analysis of 325 genes commonly expressed in all four comparison groups indicated that DEGs were mainly enriched in protein processing in the endoplasmic reticulum. Through GWAS and transcriptomic analysis, we uncovered 23 genes on chromosomes 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 9, 10, and 12 associated with chlorophyll fluorescence parameters and vegetation indices under heat stress. CONCLUSIONS: This study provides a deeper understanding of the genetic basis of chlorophyll fluorescence under heat stress in blueberries, offering valuable information for breeding strategies to develop blueberry cultivars with enhanced photosynthetic efficiency.

  PublisherOA PDFDOI

• Correction: BerryPortraits: phenotyping of ripening traits in cranberry (Vaccinium macrocarpon Ait.) With YOLOv8

  Plant Methods · 2025-01-07 · 2 citations

  erratumOpen access

  cranberry (Vaccinium macrocarpon Ait.) with YOLOv8' .but should have been.

  PublisherOA PDFDOI

• Bioavailability and pharmacokinetics of (poly)phenols following consumption of selected blueberries and a blueberry-rich protein bar by adult males and females: a randomized, crossover, controlled trial

  American Journal of Clinical Nutrition · 2025-02-01 · 3 citations

  articleOpen access

  It is commonly believed that higher nutrient content equates to healthier foods and that food processing lowers nutrient content, although bioavailability studies often indicate otherwise. Blueberries, a rich source of (poly)phenols with proven health benefits, provide a feasible model to evaluate phytochemical bioavailability following consumption of raw and processed fruits. This study evaluates the effect of processing on the bioavailability of (poly)phenols following consumption of 4 interventions: 2 blueberry varieties (i.e., Elliott and Olympia) selected based on differing (poly)phenol content and in vitro bioaccessibility, a (poly)phenol-rich protein bar providing an equivalent amount of blueberries, and a control beverage. This blinded, randomized, 4-way crossover, controlled trial ( n = 18; 42.06 ± 12.53 y; body mass index [BMI] 24.75 ± 2.97 kg/m 2 ) fed 1 serving (150 g) of Elliott and Olympia blueberries and a (poly)phenol-rich protein bar containing 1 serving of Elliott blueberries, compared with a macronutrient-matched control beverage. (Poly)phenols and metabolites were analyzed in blood and urine over 48 h, with bioavailability and pharmacokinetics assessed via linear mixed-effects repeated measures ANOVA. Recovery of metabolites was similar following consumption of blueberry varieties of differing (poly)phenol composition, with higher total urinary recovery after Elliott blueberry relative to Olympia blueberry and protein bar (21% and 29%, respectively). Serum AUC was similar across berry-derived treatments, whereas differences in maximum concentration (C max ) and time at maximum concentration (T max ) were observed; for example, urinary recovery of 3-methoxycinnamic acid-4-O-glucuronide was similar following Elliott blueberry and protein bar ( P = 1.00), whereas C max was 1.24 h later after Elliott blueberry compared with protein bar (T max = 3.84 compared with 2.60 h). Alternatively, C max for 3-(3-hydroxyphenyl)propanoic acid was higher following Elliott blueberry compared with Olympia blueberry and protein bar (26.63 and 25.32 ng/mL higher, respectively). Differing berry (poly)phenol content and bioaccessibility only minimally affect bioavailability following consumption of blueberries relative to a blueberry-rich protein bar, suggesting (poly)phenol-dense foods, such as bars and snacks, could provide similar health benefits as raw fruits. Further studies using other crops are required to assess if these findings are translatable. This trial was registered at clinicaltrials.gov as NCT04175106.

  PublisherDOI

• A public mid‐density genotyping platform for cultivated cranberry ( <i>Vaccinium macrocarpon</i> Aiton)

  The Plant Genome · 2025-10-08 · 1 citations

  articleOpen access

  Abstract Cranberry ( Vaccinium macrocarpon Aiton), a native North American fruit crop, has gained global popularity due to its unique flavor and health benefits. As the market expands for new cranberry products, the requirements to produce varieties that meet new standards have increased. DNA‐assisted breeding in cranberry has been limited due to the lack of cost‐effective genotyping tools. To address this gap, Breeding Insight developed and validated a 3K DArTag panel. Target loci were strategically selected from 507K single‐nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs), generated from resequencing 53 diverse cultivated cranberry accessions. Selection criteria prioritized even genomic distribution, genic regions, maximum genetic diversity among North American breeding germplasm, and markers associated with known quantitative trait loci. The cranberry 3K DArTag panel was validated using a diverse collection of cranberry accessions, interspecific hybrids, and two F 1 populations. The panel, optimized for cultivated V . macrocarpon , demonstrated a high average amplification rate (83.4%) and robust performance in its close relatives, Vaccinium microcarpum and Vaccinium oxycoccos , as well as somewhat lower but acceptable performance in interspecific hybrids. However, transferability to the more distant blueberry was limited. The panel successfully revealed expected ploidy levels and population structure among the tested materials. Two individual linkage maps and one consensus map were constructed for the mapping populations, with an average marker density of 0.68 markers per centimorgan. This cost‐effective (∼$15/sample), rapid genotyping platform offers valuable capabilities for public and private breeding programs. Its open‐access nature enables genetic datasets generated from the marker panel to be compared and integrated across projects and geographical boundaries.

  PublisherDOI

• A high-recovery, high-density targeted genotyping platform for cranberry

  2025-08-05 · 2 citations

  preprintOpen access

  The American cranberry (Vaccinium macrocarpon) is a commercially important berry species native to North America. Cranberry is a popular fruit crop with many known health benefits. Thus far, genotyping-by-sequencing (GBS) was the only high throughput genotyping technique available in cranberry. While GBS is cost efficient, it has the disadvantage of producing variant calls that cannot be easily transferred between populations and across studies. Here, we report the development of the first targeted high-throughput genotyping platform for cranberry. The Flex-Seq genotyping technology offers repeatable, high recovery, and high-density single nucleotide polymorphisms as well as concomitant haplotypes. The cranberry Flex-Seq platform contains 17,502 loci, boasting a recovery rate of 99.8% in a diversity panel of 192 cranberry accessions. The level of incompatible marker inheritance in 22 analyzed parent-offspring trios ranged from 1.1% to 13%, with an average of 5.5%. Nine of the 22 crosses had an excess of incompatible markers indicating inconsistent parentage that could be investigated further. In quantitative trait loci (QTL) analyses, Flex-Seq identified a greater number of QTL compared to previously used GBS as well as higher overall LOD scores for overlapping QTL. In addition, construction of locus haplotypes resulted in a substantial improvement in resolving the relatedness of cranberry accessions. This platform will aid in utilizing the untapped potential of wild cranberry, mapping key traits with higher precision, and ensuring robust characterization of accessions. The developed genotyping platform will help in the rapid improvement of cranberry cultivars to benefit breeders, growers, and consumers.

  PublisherOA PDFDOI

• Genome Database for <i>Vaccinium</i> : a community resource for genetics, genomics, and breeding research

  Acta Horticulturae · 2025-11-01

  article
  PublisherDOI

• VacCAP, a community-based project to develop advanced breeding tools to improve fruit quality in blueberry and cranberry

  Acta Horticulturae · 2025-11-01

  article1st authorCorresponding
  PublisherDOI

• Inhibition of pro-atherogenic trimethylamine production from choline by human gut bacteria is not determined by varying chlorogenic acid content in highbush blueberries

  bioRxiv (Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory) · 2025-06-21

  preprint

  Abstract Elevated blood levels of trimethylamine N-oxide (TMAO) are linked to increased risk of atherosclerosis. TMAO is produced when gut bacteria metabolize quaternary amines such as choline to trimethylamine (TMA), which is converted to TMAO in the liver. Chlorogenic acid (CGA), a phenolic abundant in blueberries, inhibits TMA production. Blueberries may be a TMA- (and TMAO)-lowering food. CGA content in blueberries varies significantly. It remains unclear whether variations in CGA levels influence the TMA-lowering activity of different cultivars. We investigated the impact of blueberry CGA content on inhibition of choline-d 9 conversion to TMA-d 9 in our upper gastrointestinal and in vitro human fecal model. Preliminary experiments indicated near-total inhibition of TMA-d 9 production when whole blueberries were tested. Blueberry pulp and sugars recapitulated this complete inhibition, whereas blueberry skins and a fiber had more moderate inhibition. We proceeded with skins (to avoid interferences from sugar-rich pulp, which would not be present in the colon in vivo ) from 20 highbush blueberry genotypes, chosen for extremes in CGA content. CGA in whole berries was 2.6-146 mg/100 g fresh weight, while CGA in skins was 13.6-975 mg/100 g fresh weight. No differences were observed in TMA-d 9 production among the 4 highest and 4 lowest CGA genotypes in kinetic curves or area under the curve (AUC) values when skin digesta were fermented with choline-d 9 . However, significant differences were observed between all genotypes compared to blank digesta, with ∼19.4.% reduction in TMA-d 9 AUCs, indicating that skins provides similar TMA-lowering benefits across genotypes. Levels of free CGA in fermenta of skin digesta were 0.05-0.3 μM, &gt;1000-fold lower than the minimum effective dose we observed for pure CGA in vitro , suggesting that blueberry CGA content is not a crucial factor for lowering TMA. Fiber also does not account for most of the inhibitory activity of blueberry skins. Studies are needed to confirm this in vitro study and understand how blueberries inhibit TMA and potentially TMAO production in vivo .

  PublisherDOI

Frequent coauthors

• Philipp W. Simon

  136 shared

• Pablo F. Cavagnaro

  94 shared

• Douglas Senalik

  59 shared

• Molla F. Mengist

  North Carolina State University

  48 shared

• Nicholi Vorsa

  Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey

  42 shared

• Aamir Ali

  University of Sargodha

  38 shared

• Philip A. Roberts

  University of California, Riverside

  37 shared

• William Matthews

  University of California, Riverside

  37 shared

Education

• PhD, Horticulture

  Università degli Studi di Napoli Federico II

  2009

• BS and MS, Horticulture

  Università degli Studi di Napoli Federico II

  2005