Thermal Inactivation Kinetics and Radio Frequency Control of <i>Aspergillus</i> in Almond Kernels

Mold infections in almonds are a safety issue during post-harvest, storage and consumption, leading to health problems for consumers and causing economic losses. The aim of this study was to isolate mold from infected almond kernels and identify it by whole genome sequence (WGS). Then, the more heat...

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Main Authors: Yu Gao, Xiangyu Guan, Ailin Wan, Yuan Cui, Xiaoxi Kou, Rui Li, Shaojin Wang
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: MDPI AG 2022-05-01
Series:Foods
Subjects:
Online Access:https://www.mdpi.com/2304-8158/11/11/1603
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author Yu Gao
Xiangyu Guan
Ailin Wan
Yuan Cui
Xiaoxi Kou
Rui Li
Shaojin Wang
author_facet Yu Gao
Xiangyu Guan
Ailin Wan
Yuan Cui
Xiaoxi Kou
Rui Li
Shaojin Wang
author_sort Yu Gao
collection DOAJ
description Mold infections in almonds are a safety issue during post-harvest, storage and consumption, leading to health problems for consumers and causing economic losses. The aim of this study was to isolate mold from infected almond kernels and identify it by whole genome sequence (WGS). Then, the more heat resistant mold was selected and the thermal inactivation kinetics of this mold influenced by temperature and water activity (<i>a<sub>w</sub></i>) was developed. Hot air-assisted radio frequency (RF) heating was used to validate pasteurization efficacy based on the thermal inactivation kinetics of this target mold. The results showed that the two types of molds were <i>Penicillium</i> and <i>Aspergillus</i> identified by WGS. The selected <i>Aspergillus</i> had higher heat resistance than the <i>Penicillium</i> in the almond kernels. Inactivation data for the target <i>Aspergillus</i> fitted the Weibull model better than the first-order kinetic model. The population changes of the target <i>Aspergillus</i> under the given conditions could be predicted from Mafart’s modified Bigelow model. The RF treatment was effectively used for inactivating <i>Aspergillus</i> in almond kernels based on Mafart’s modified Bigelow model and the cumulative lethal time model.
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spelling doaj.art-9e8279a04b2e4f6eacf2deb396cbcc852023-11-23T14:02:56ZengMDPI AGFoods2304-81582022-05-011111160310.3390/foods11111603Thermal Inactivation Kinetics and Radio Frequency Control of <i>Aspergillus</i> in Almond KernelsYu Gao0Xiangyu Guan1Ailin Wan2Yuan Cui3Xiaoxi Kou4Rui Li5Shaojin Wang6College of Mechanical and Electronic Engineering, Northwest A&F University, Xianyang 712100, ChinaCollege of Mechanical and Electronic Engineering, Northwest A&F University, Xianyang 712100, ChinaCollege of Food Science and Engineering, Northwest A&F University, Xianyang 712100, ChinaCollege of Food Science and Engineering, Northwest A&F University, Xianyang 712100, ChinaCollege of Mechanical and Electronic Engineering, Northwest A&F University, Xianyang 712100, ChinaCollege of Mechanical and Electronic Engineering, Northwest A&F University, Xianyang 712100, ChinaCollege of Mechanical and Electronic Engineering, Northwest A&F University, Xianyang 712100, ChinaMold infections in almonds are a safety issue during post-harvest, storage and consumption, leading to health problems for consumers and causing economic losses. The aim of this study was to isolate mold from infected almond kernels and identify it by whole genome sequence (WGS). Then, the more heat resistant mold was selected and the thermal inactivation kinetics of this mold influenced by temperature and water activity (<i>a<sub>w</sub></i>) was developed. Hot air-assisted radio frequency (RF) heating was used to validate pasteurization efficacy based on the thermal inactivation kinetics of this target mold. The results showed that the two types of molds were <i>Penicillium</i> and <i>Aspergillus</i> identified by WGS. The selected <i>Aspergillus</i> had higher heat resistance than the <i>Penicillium</i> in the almond kernels. Inactivation data for the target <i>Aspergillus</i> fitted the Weibull model better than the first-order kinetic model. The population changes of the target <i>Aspergillus</i> under the given conditions could be predicted from Mafart’s modified Bigelow model. The RF treatment was effectively used for inactivating <i>Aspergillus</i> in almond kernels based on Mafart’s modified Bigelow model and the cumulative lethal time model.https://www.mdpi.com/2304-8158/11/11/1603almond kernels<i>Aspergillus</i>radio frequencythermal inactivation kineticsverification
spellingShingle Yu Gao
Xiangyu Guan
Ailin Wan
Yuan Cui
Xiaoxi Kou
Rui Li
Shaojin Wang
Thermal Inactivation Kinetics and Radio Frequency Control of <i>Aspergillus</i> in Almond Kernels
Foods
almond kernels
<i>Aspergillus</i>
radio frequency
thermal inactivation kinetics
verification
title Thermal Inactivation Kinetics and Radio Frequency Control of <i>Aspergillus</i> in Almond Kernels
title_full Thermal Inactivation Kinetics and Radio Frequency Control of <i>Aspergillus</i> in Almond Kernels
title_fullStr Thermal Inactivation Kinetics and Radio Frequency Control of <i>Aspergillus</i> in Almond Kernels
title_full_unstemmed Thermal Inactivation Kinetics and Radio Frequency Control of <i>Aspergillus</i> in Almond Kernels
title_short Thermal Inactivation Kinetics and Radio Frequency Control of <i>Aspergillus</i> in Almond Kernels
title_sort thermal inactivation kinetics and radio frequency control of i aspergillus i in almond kernels
topic almond kernels
<i>Aspergillus</i>
radio frequency
thermal inactivation kinetics
verification
url https://www.mdpi.com/2304-8158/11/11/1603
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AT yuancui thermalinactivationkineticsandradiofrequencycontrolofiaspergillusiinalmondkernels
AT xiaoxikou thermalinactivationkineticsandradiofrequencycontrolofiaspergillusiinalmondkernels
AT ruili thermalinactivationkineticsandradiofrequencycontrolofiaspergillusiinalmondkernels
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