title: Growth of Salmonella on sprouting alfalfa seeds as affected by the inoculum size, native microbial load and Pseudomonas fluorescens 2-79.
abstract: 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.
authors.affiliation: Eastern Regional Research Center, Agricultural Research Service, U.S. Department of Agriculture, Wyndmoor, PA 19038, USA. chinghsing.liao@ars.usda.gov
authors.forename: C-H
authors.initials: CH
authors.lastname: Liao
mesh_terms: 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