He has been a researcher at Citrus Research International since 2003.
QUALIFICATIONS
  • BSc Agric. Hons (Tuinboukunde) University of Pretoria – 1998
  • MSc Agric (Horticulture) University of Stellenbosch – 2002
  • Phd Agric (Horticulture) University of Stellenbosch – 2009
  • International student and researcher at the Catholic University in Leuven – 2002
CURRENT RESEARCH FOCUS
  • Impact of shade nets on export volume and quality
  • Development of a strategy to lessen the effect of cold damage on lemons
  • The impact of pre-cooling and shipping in cold containers on the quality of citrus fruit
  • The combined use of radiation and temperature control as a phytosanitary option
RECENT RESEARCH PAPERS
Lado, J., Rodrigo, M-J., Cronje, P., Zacarías, L., 2014. Involvement of lycopene in the induction of tolerance to chilling injury in grapefruit. Postharvest Biology and Technology 100: 176–186.
Defraeye, T. Paul Cronjé, Tarl Berry, U. L Opara, Andrew East, Maarten Hertog, Pieter Verboven, Bart Nicolai.2015. Towards integrated performance evaluation of future packaging for fresh produce in the cold chain. Trends in Food Science and Technology. 44 (2). 201-225.
Defraeye T., B. Nicolai., W Kirkman, S Moore, S van Niekerk, P Verboven, P Cronjé. 2016. Integral performance evaluation of the fresh-produce cold chain: A case study for ambient loading of citrus in refrigerated containers. Postharvest Biology and Technology 112. 1–13.
Defraeye T, Pieter Verboven, U. L Opara, Bart Nicolai, Paul Cronje. 2015. Feasibility of ambient loading of citrus fruit into refrigerated containers for cooling during marine transport. Biosystems Engineering.134. 20-30.
Cronje, P.J.R., Zacarías, L., F. Alférez. 2017. Susceptibility to postharvest peel pitting in Citrus fruits as related to albedo thickness, water loss and phospholipase activity.  Postharvest Biology and Technology. 123: (1) 77-82.
John McGlashan, Paul Cronje and Thijs Defraeye. 2017. Guidelines for pre-cooling of citrus fruit for in-transit cold treatments in containers.