title: Effect of the irrigation regime on the susceptibility of pepper and tomato to post-harvest proliferation of Salmonella enterica.
abstract: Raw produce is increasingly recognized as a vehicle of human gastroenteritis. Non-typhoidal Salmonella, pathogenic Escherichia coli, and other human pathogens have been isolated from fruits and vegetables in the field and in the marketplace, which led to the hypothesis that these microbes can use plants as alternate hosts. However, environmental and physiological factors that facilitate persistence of these bacteria in the crop production environment and make produce more vulnerable to post-harvest contamination have not been fully delineated. This study tested the effect of irrigation regimes on the susceptibility of peppers and tomatoes to post-harvest proliferation of Salmonella. The experiments were carried out over three experimental seasons in two locations using seven strains of Salmonella. The irrigation regime per se did not affect susceptibility of tomatoes and peppers to post-harvest proliferation of Salmonella; however, in some of the seasons, irrigation regime-dependent differences were observed. Red peppers and tomatoes were more conducive to proliferation of Salmonella than green fruit in all seasons. Inter-seasonal differences were the strongest factors affecting proliferation of Salmonella in peppers.
authors.affiliation: Department of Soil and Water Science, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, USA.
authors.forename: Massimiliano
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Marvasi
authors.affiliation: Department of Soil and Water Science, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, USA.
authors.forename: Andrée S
authors.initials: AS
authors.lastname: George
authors.affiliation: Department of Statistics, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, USA.
authors.forename: Mihai C
authors.initials: MC
authors.lastname: Giurcanu
authors.affiliation: Department of Soil and Water Science, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, USA.
authors.forename: George J
authors.initials: GJ
authors.lastname: Hochmuth
authors.affiliation: Department of Soil and Water Science, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, USA.
authors.forename: Jason T
authors.initials: JT
authors.lastname: Noel
authors.affiliation: Department of Soil and Water Science, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, USA. Electronic address: maxtep@ufl.edu.
authors.forename: Max
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Teplitski
mesh_terms: D057914:Agricultural Irrigation / Q000379:methods*; D002212:Capsicum / Q000254:growth & development / Q000382:microbiology*; D005506:Food Contamination / Q000032:analysis; D005638:Fruit / Q000254:growth & development / Q000382:microbiology; D018551:Solanum lycopersicum / Q000254:growth & development / Q000382:microbiology*; D019779:Salmonella enterica / Q000254:growth & development*; D012621:Seasons; D014675:Vegetables / Q000254:growth & development / Q000382:microbiology*
keywords: Human pathogens; Irrigation regime; Produce safety