title: Quantification and identification of microorganisms found on shell and kernel of fresh edible chestnuts in Michigan.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Chestnut is a relatively new cultivated crop for Michigan, and postharvest loss due to decay has been problematic as production has increased each year. In 2007, more than 25% of chestnuts were lost to postharvest decay, equivalent to approximately 5300 kg of fresh product. To determine the organisms responsible for decay, a microbiological survey was performed in 2006 and 2007 to identify microorganisms involved in postharvest shell (external surface) mold and internal kernel (edible portion) decay of chestnuts.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Filamentous fungi including Penicillium expansum, Penicillium griseofulvum, Penicillium chrysogenum, Coniophora puteana, Acrospeira mirabilis, Botryosphaeria ribis, Sclerotinia sclerotiorum, Botryotinia fuckeliana (anamorph Botrytis cinerea) and Gibberella sp. (anamorph Fusarium sp.) were the predominant microorganisms that negatively impacted fresh chestnuts. Populations of microorganisms varied between farms, harvesting methods and chestnut parts.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Chestnuts harvested from the orchard floor were significantly (P < 0.05) more contaminated than chestnuts harvested directly from the tree, by more than 2 log colony-forming units (CFU) g(-1) . In addition, a significant difference (P < 0.05) in the microbial population was seen between chestnuts submitted by different growers, with average count ranges of fungi, mesophilic aerobic bacteria (MAB) and yeasts equal to 4.75, 4.59 and 4.75 log CFU g(-1) respectively. © 2016 Society of Chemical Industry.
authors: Department of Biosystems and Agricultural Engineering, Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI 48824, USA.
authors: Irwin R
authors: IR
authors: Donis-González
authors: Department of Biosystems and Agricultural Engineering, Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI 48824, USA.
authors: Daniel E
authors: DE
authors: Guyer
authors: Department of Plant, Soil and Microbial Sciences, Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI 48824, USA.
authors: Dennis W
authors: DW
authors: Fulbright
mesh_terms: D001203:Ascomycota / Q000145:classification / Q000254:growth & development / Q000302:isolation & purification; D001487:Basidiomycota / Q000145:classification / Q000254:growth & development / Q000302:isolation & purification; D020171:Botrytis / Q000145:classification / Q000254:growth & development / Q000302:isolation & purification; D000069599:Crop Production; D018556:Crops, Agricultural / Q000254:growth & development / Q000382:microbiology*; D003433:Crosses, Genetic; D029962:Fagaceae / Q000254:growth & development / Q000382:microbiology*; D005513:Food Inspection; D061353:Food Storage; D005658:Fungi / Q000145:classification / Q000254:growth & development* / Q000302:isolation & purification; D006088:Gram-Negative Aerobic Bacteria / Q000145:classification / Q000254:growth & development / Q000302:isolation & purification; D006094:Gram-Positive Bacteria / Q000145:classification / Q000254:growth & development / Q000302:isolation & purification; D008824:Michigan; D058889:Molecular Typing; D016533:Mycological Typing Techniques; D009754:Nuts / Q000254:growth & development / Q000382:microbiology*; D010407:Penicillium / Q000145:classification / Q000254:growth & development / Q000302:isolation & purification; D000459:Phaeophyceae / Q000145:classification / Q000254:growth & development / Q000302:isolation & purification; D012988:Soil Microbiology; D062211:Spatio-Temporal Analysis; D013499:Surface Properties; D015003:Yeasts / Q000145:classification / Q000254:growth & development / Q000302:isolation & purification
keywords: mesophilic aerobic bacteria (MAB); molds; postharvest; storage; yeasts