Danielle Bilounga 

Danielle Bilounga

Danielle Bilounga Bekolo is currently student at the University of Strasbourg in France, in second year of a Master's degree in Plant Sciences (upgrading of plant resources). From February to July 2010, she did six months internship under the supervision of Dr. Shahrokh Khanizadeh at the Horticulture Research and Development Center (HRDC) in St-Jean-sur-Richelieu.
 
In order to develop apple cultivars resistant to cold, diseases, insects and storage, she worked on the composition of their polyphenolic content. She also worked on selections for apple cider production. Title of the topic: "Agronomic characteristics and polyphenolic content of newly developed apples from Quebec and British Columbia".
 
Most of her work was to analyze the phenolic composition of apple selections under study and compare those to varieties already marketed. From samples of apples frozen at -80ºC, she performed HPLC analysis, FRAP and FC to identify and quantify phenolic compounds present in the skin and flesh in order to determine their antioxidant capacity. Phenolic profiles established, apple varieties could be selected for immediate consumption, production of cider or other by-products.
 
In addition to this, she studied and observed characteristics of twenty-two other cultivars and selections of apples. For three months, she performed analysis of acidity, soluble solids content and firmness. She also checked browning immediately after cutting and after 2, 6 and 24 hours at room temperature.
 
In the end of her internship, she drafted her first scientific paper with the agreement of Dr. Khanizadeh.
 
Contact:
Danielle Bilounga Bekolo
University of Strasbourg
Faculty of Life Sciences
28, Goethe Street, 67083, Strasbourg
lateeb@hotmail.fr
Professor: Laurence Gondet Manager
Internship: Shahrokh Khanizadeh