title: Isolation and identification of species of Alicyclobacillus from orchard soil in the Western Cape, South Africa.
abstract: Alicyclobacilli were isolated from orchard soil collected from an apple and pear farm in Elgin, Western Cape, South Africa. Morphological, biochemical and physiological characteristics of the isolates were used to presumptively classify them as belonging to the genus Alicyclobacillus. Strains were identified to species level by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) with genus-specific primers, and 16S ribosomal RNA (rRNA) gene sequencing. To our knowledge this is the first report on the isolation of Alicyclobacillus acidoterrestris and Alicyclobacillus acidocaldarius from orchard soil. The presence of these organisms in the soil suggests a possible source of contamination for the final fruit juice, concentrate or pulp.
authors.affiliation: Department of Food Science, Stellenbosch University, Private Bag X1, Matieland 7602, South Africa.
authors.forename: Willem H
authors.initials: WH
authors.lastname: Groenewald
authors.forename: Pieter A
authors.initials: PA
authors.lastname: Gouws
authors.forename: R Corli
authors.initials: RC
authors.lastname: Witthuhn
mesh_terms: D016937:Gram-Positive Endospore-Forming Rods / Q000235:genetics* / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction; D012336:RNA, Ribosomal, 16S / Q000235:genetics*; D017423:Sequence Analysis, RNA; D012988:Soil Microbiology; D013019:South Africa
chemical_list: D012336:RNA, Ribosomal, 16S