Growth of Salmonella on sprouting alfalfa seeds as affected by the inoculum size, native microbial load and Pseudomonas fluorescens 2-79.
OBJECTIVE
To investigate the growth of salmonellae on sprouting alfalfa seeds as affected by the inoculum size, microbial load and Pseudomonas fluorescens 2-79.


RESULTS
Alfalfa seeds pre-inoculated with < or =10(1)-10(3) CFU g(-1) of salmonellae and with or without Ps. fluorescens 2-79 were sprouted in glass jars and the population of salmonellae were determined daily for up to 6 days. The population of salmonellae on germinating seeds reached the maximum 2-3 days after sprouting when total bacterial count reached the maximum (10(9) CFU g(-1)). The population of salmonellae on sprouting seeds not treated with Ps. fluorescens 2-79 showed a net increase of 3-4 log units. However, the population of salmonellae on alfalfa seeds treated with Ps. fluorescens 2-79 showed a net increase of only 1-2 log units. Disinfection of seeds with calcium hypochlorite enhanced the growth of salmonellae.


CONCLUSIONS
Treatment of seeds with Ps. fluorescens 2-79 reduced the growth of salmonellae by 2-3 log units.


CONCLUSIONS
The potential of Ps. fluorescens 2-79 as a biological agent for use in control of salmonellae on sprouting seeds was demonstrated and warrants further investigation.
Liao
C-H
CH
Eastern Regional Research Center, Agricultural Research Service, U.S. Department of Agriculture, Wyndmoor, PA 19038, USA. chinghsing.liao@ars.usda.gov
D015169:Colony Count, Microbial; D000455:Medicago sativa / Q000254:growth & development / Q000382:microbiology*; D011551:Pseudomonas fluorescens / Q000254:growth & development / Q000502:physiology*; D012475:Salmonella / Q000254:growth & development*; D012639:Seeds / Q000254:growth & development / Q000382:microbiology*; D013997:Time Factors