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ARS Home » Southeast Area » Stoneville, Mississippi » Warmwater Aquaculture Research Unit » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #331341
Research Project: Umbrella Project for Food Safety

Location: Warmwater Aquaculture Research Unit

Title: Effect of X-ray treatments on Escherichia coli 0157:H7, Listeria monocytogenes, Shigella flexneri, Salmonella enterica and inherent microbiota on whole mangoes

Author
item MAHMOUD, BARAKAT - Mississippi State University
item NANNAPANENI, RAMAKRISHNA - Mississippi State University
item CHANG, SAM - Mississippi State University
item COKER, RANDY - Mississippi State University

Submitted to: Letters in Applied Microbiology
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 10/25/2015
Publication Date: 2/1/2016
Citation: Mahmoud, B., Nannapaneni, R., Chang, S., Coker, R. 2016. Effect of X-ray treatments on Escherichia coli 0157:H7, Listeria monocytogenes, Shigella flexneri, Salmonella enterica and inherent microbiota on whole mangoes. Letters in Applied Microbiology. 62:138-44.

Interpretive Summary: X-ray was able to control pathogenic bacteria on whole mangos. X-ray could be a good alternative to the fresh produce industry for ensuring the safety and quality of their fresh fruits and vegetables.

Technical Abstract: The aims of this investigation were to; (i) study the effect of X-ray treatments in reducing Escherichia coli O157:H7, Listeria monocytogenes, Salmonella enterica and Shigella flexneri on whole mangoes, and (ii) study the effect of Xray treatments on microflora counts (mesophilic counts, psychrotrophic counts and yeast and mold counts) of whole mangoes during storage at ambient temperature (22°C) for 30 days. A mixture of three strains of each test organism was spot inoculated (100 ul; approx. 8-9 log CFU ml -1), separately, onto the surface (5 cm2) of whole mangoes, air-dried (30 min), and then treated with different doses of X-ray (0.0,1, 0.5, 1.0, and 1.5 kGy). Approximately 2.9, 1.8, 2.1 and 5.2 log CFU cm -2 reduction of E. coli O157: H7, L. monocytogenes, Sh. flexneri and Salm. enterica were achieved by treatment with 0.5 kGy X-ray respectively. Furthermore, the populations of E. coli O157:H7, L. monocytogenes, Sh. flexneri and Salm. enterica were reduced to less than the detectable limit (2.0 log CFU cm -2) by treatment with 1.5 kGy X-ray. Treatment with 1.5 kGy X-ray significantly reduced the initial inherent microflora on skin of whole mangoes and inherent levels were significantly (P < 0.05) lower than the control sample throughout storage at 22°C for 30 days.