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From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Sylvia Blankenship
Born
Sylvia Elise Meadows

(1954-09-10) September 10, 1954 (age 69)
Alma mater Oregon State University
Texas A&M University
Scientific career
Institutions North Carolina State University
Thesis Phenolic acids and ethylene biosynthesis in pears during ripening and storage (1983)

Sylvia Blankenship (née Meadows) (born September 10, 1954) is an American horticulturalist and inventor. She is an emeritus professor at North Carolina State University. She identified 1-methylcyclopropene, a compound which extends the storage life of fruits. Blakenship was inducted into the National Inventors Hall of Fame in 2020.

Early life and education

Blankenship grew up in Northern Virginia and spent her summers on a ranch in Godley, Texas where she walked amongst their Hereford cattle, explored the beautiful terrain of their property, and gardened with her mother. It is rumored that there's some hidden treasures left behind throughout the property. [1] She was interested in nature as a child, and enjoyed adventure stories about Davy Crockett. She began her studies at Texas A&M University, where she became interested in plant sciences and first started to explore plant compounds. [1] She moved to Oregon State University for her doctoral research, where she earned a PhD in 1983. Her doctoral research looked at the biosynthesis of ethylene in pears during ripening. [2]

Research and career

Blankenship was appointed to the faculty of the North Carolina State University and remained there throughout her career, eventually becoming an emeritus professor. [3]

Blankenship studied ethylene binding sites and the identification of ethylene inhibitors. [4] She did not receive much research funding, but, in collaboration with Edward Sisler, managed to develop the compound 1-Methylcyclopropene (1-MCP). [4] 1-MCP docks in the plant receptor sites that typically accommodate ethylene. By binding 1-MCP instead of ethylene, produce and flowers remain fresher for longer. She tested her compound on carnations, apples and tomatoes. 1-MCP was patented in 1996 and licensed to Floralife, who incorporated 1-MCP into a white powder that was easy to use. [4] Eventually it was licensed to SmartFresh, which earned North Carolina State University over $25 million in royalties.[ citation needed]

In 2020, Blankenship was inducted into the National Inventors Hall of Fame. [5] [6]

Awards and honors

Selected publications

  • Sylvia M Blankenship; John M Dole (April 2003). "1-Methylcyclopropene: a review". Postharvest Biology and Technology. 28 (1): 1–25. doi: 10.1016/S0925-5214(02)00246-6. ISSN  0925-5214. Wikidata  Q62125825.
  • X Fan; J P Mattheis; S Blankenship (August 1, 1999). "Development of apple superficial scald, soft scald, core flush, and greasiness is reduced by MCP". Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry. 47 (8): 3063–3068. doi: 10.1021/JF981176B. ISSN  0021-8561. PMID  10552609. Wikidata  Q44872174.
  • Robert D. Belding; Sylvia M. Blankenship; Eric Young; Ross B. Leidy (May 1998). "Composition and Variability of Epicuticular Waxes in Apple Cultivars". Journal of the American Society for Horticultural Science. 123 (3): 348–356. doi: 10.21273/JASHS.123.3.348. ISSN  0003-1062. Wikidata  Q110687673.

References

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Sylvia Blankenship
Born
Sylvia Elise Meadows

(1954-09-10) September 10, 1954 (age 69)
Alma mater Oregon State University
Texas A&M University
Scientific career
Institutions North Carolina State University
Thesis Phenolic acids and ethylene biosynthesis in pears during ripening and storage (1983)

Sylvia Blankenship (née Meadows) (born September 10, 1954) is an American horticulturalist and inventor. She is an emeritus professor at North Carolina State University. She identified 1-methylcyclopropene, a compound which extends the storage life of fruits. Blakenship was inducted into the National Inventors Hall of Fame in 2020.

Early life and education

Blankenship grew up in Northern Virginia and spent her summers on a ranch in Godley, Texas where she walked amongst their Hereford cattle, explored the beautiful terrain of their property, and gardened with her mother. It is rumored that there's some hidden treasures left behind throughout the property. [1] She was interested in nature as a child, and enjoyed adventure stories about Davy Crockett. She began her studies at Texas A&M University, where she became interested in plant sciences and first started to explore plant compounds. [1] She moved to Oregon State University for her doctoral research, where she earned a PhD in 1983. Her doctoral research looked at the biosynthesis of ethylene in pears during ripening. [2]

Research and career

Blankenship was appointed to the faculty of the North Carolina State University and remained there throughout her career, eventually becoming an emeritus professor. [3]

Blankenship studied ethylene binding sites and the identification of ethylene inhibitors. [4] She did not receive much research funding, but, in collaboration with Edward Sisler, managed to develop the compound 1-Methylcyclopropene (1-MCP). [4] 1-MCP docks in the plant receptor sites that typically accommodate ethylene. By binding 1-MCP instead of ethylene, produce and flowers remain fresher for longer. She tested her compound on carnations, apples and tomatoes. 1-MCP was patented in 1996 and licensed to Floralife, who incorporated 1-MCP into a white powder that was easy to use. [4] Eventually it was licensed to SmartFresh, which earned North Carolina State University over $25 million in royalties.[ citation needed]

In 2020, Blankenship was inducted into the National Inventors Hall of Fame. [5] [6]

Awards and honors

Selected publications

  • Sylvia M Blankenship; John M Dole (April 2003). "1-Methylcyclopropene: a review". Postharvest Biology and Technology. 28 (1): 1–25. doi: 10.1016/S0925-5214(02)00246-6. ISSN  0925-5214. Wikidata  Q62125825.
  • X Fan; J P Mattheis; S Blankenship (August 1, 1999). "Development of apple superficial scald, soft scald, core flush, and greasiness is reduced by MCP". Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry. 47 (8): 3063–3068. doi: 10.1021/JF981176B. ISSN  0021-8561. PMID  10552609. Wikidata  Q44872174.
  • Robert D. Belding; Sylvia M. Blankenship; Eric Young; Ross B. Leidy (May 1998). "Composition and Variability of Epicuticular Waxes in Apple Cultivars". Journal of the American Society for Horticultural Science. 123 (3): 348–356. doi: 10.21273/JASHS.123.3.348. ISSN  0003-1062. Wikidata  Q110687673.

References


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