Persistence and Transfer of Foodborne Pathogens to Sunflower and Pea Shoot Microgreens during Production in Soil-Free Cultivation Matrix
Microgreens are an emerging salad crop with properties similar to those of sprouted seeds and lettuce. This study aimed to determine bacterial pathogen persistence during microgreen cultivation and transfer from soil-free cultivation matrix (SFCM) to mature microgreens. <i>Salmonella enterica&...
| Main Authors: | , , , |
|---|---|
| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
MDPI AG
2021-11-01
|
| Series: | Horticulturae |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2311-7524/7/11/446 |
| _version_ | 1797510092175704064 |
|---|---|
| author | Wenjun Deng Gina M. Misra Christopher A. Baker Kristen E. Gibson |
| author_facet | Wenjun Deng Gina M. Misra Christopher A. Baker Kristen E. Gibson |
| author_sort | Wenjun Deng |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Microgreens are an emerging salad crop with properties similar to those of sprouted seeds and lettuce. This study aimed to determine bacterial pathogen persistence during microgreen cultivation and transfer from soil-free cultivation matrix (SFCM) to mature microgreens. <i>Salmonella enterica</i> subsp. <i>enterica</i> ser. Javiana and <i>Listeria monocytogenes</i> were inoculated onto biostrate mats as well as peat SFCM and sampled (day 0). Next, sunflower and pea shoot seeds were planted (day 0) and grown in a controlled environment until the microgreen harvest (day 10). On day 10, SFCM and microgreens were sampled to determine the pathogen levels in the SFCM and the pathogen transfer to microgreens during production. <i>Salmonella</i> Javiana log CFU/g were significantly higher than <i>L. monocytogenes</i> in SFCM on day 10 in both planted and unplanted regions (<i>p</i> < 0.05). Significant differences in pathogen transfer (log CFU/g) were observed between the pea shoot and sunflower microgreens, regardless of the pathogen or SFCM type (<i>p</i> < 0.05). Meanwhile, pathogen transfer to the pea shoot and sunflower microgreens from the biostrate was 1.53 (95% CI: −0.75–3.81) and 5.29 (95% CI: 3.01–7.57) mean log CFU/g, respectively, and transfer from the peat was 0.00 (95% CI: −2.28–2.28) and 2.64 (95% CI: 0.36–4.92) mean log CFU/g, respectively. Results demonstrate that pathogen transfer to microgreens during production is influenced by SFCM and microgreen variety. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-10T05:27:51Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-ae40a34cc12a49778b5986ee5dd7372a |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2311-7524 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-10T05:27:51Z |
| publishDate | 2021-11-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Horticulturae |
| spelling | doaj.art-ae40a34cc12a49778b5986ee5dd7372a2023-11-22T23:33:47ZengMDPI AGHorticulturae2311-75242021-11-0171144610.3390/horticulturae7110446Persistence and Transfer of Foodborne Pathogens to Sunflower and Pea Shoot Microgreens during Production in Soil-Free Cultivation MatrixWenjun Deng0Gina M. Misra1Christopher A. Baker2Kristen E. Gibson3Department of Food Science, Division of Agriculture, University of Arkansas, Fayetteville, AR 72704, USABlue Marble Space Institute of Science, 600 1st Avenue, 1st Floor, Seattle, WA 98104, USADepartment of Food Science, Division of Agriculture, University of Arkansas, Fayetteville, AR 72704, USADepartment of Food Science, Division of Agriculture, University of Arkansas, Fayetteville, AR 72704, USAMicrogreens are an emerging salad crop with properties similar to those of sprouted seeds and lettuce. This study aimed to determine bacterial pathogen persistence during microgreen cultivation and transfer from soil-free cultivation matrix (SFCM) to mature microgreens. <i>Salmonella enterica</i> subsp. <i>enterica</i> ser. Javiana and <i>Listeria monocytogenes</i> were inoculated onto biostrate mats as well as peat SFCM and sampled (day 0). Next, sunflower and pea shoot seeds were planted (day 0) and grown in a controlled environment until the microgreen harvest (day 10). On day 10, SFCM and microgreens were sampled to determine the pathogen levels in the SFCM and the pathogen transfer to microgreens during production. <i>Salmonella</i> Javiana log CFU/g were significantly higher than <i>L. monocytogenes</i> in SFCM on day 10 in both planted and unplanted regions (<i>p</i> < 0.05). Significant differences in pathogen transfer (log CFU/g) were observed between the pea shoot and sunflower microgreens, regardless of the pathogen or SFCM type (<i>p</i> < 0.05). Meanwhile, pathogen transfer to the pea shoot and sunflower microgreens from the biostrate was 1.53 (95% CI: −0.75–3.81) and 5.29 (95% CI: 3.01–7.57) mean log CFU/g, respectively, and transfer from the peat was 0.00 (95% CI: −2.28–2.28) and 2.64 (95% CI: 0.36–4.92) mean log CFU/g, respectively. Results demonstrate that pathogen transfer to microgreens during production is influenced by SFCM and microgreen variety.https://www.mdpi.com/2311-7524/7/11/446microgreenspeatvermiculitegrowing mats<i>Salmonella</i> spp.<i>Listeria monocytogenes</i> |
| spellingShingle | Wenjun Deng Gina M. Misra Christopher A. Baker Kristen E. Gibson Persistence and Transfer of Foodborne Pathogens to Sunflower and Pea Shoot Microgreens during Production in Soil-Free Cultivation Matrix Horticulturae microgreens peat vermiculite growing mats <i>Salmonella</i> spp. <i>Listeria monocytogenes</i> |
| title | Persistence and Transfer of Foodborne Pathogens to Sunflower and Pea Shoot Microgreens during Production in Soil-Free Cultivation Matrix |
| title_full | Persistence and Transfer of Foodborne Pathogens to Sunflower and Pea Shoot Microgreens during Production in Soil-Free Cultivation Matrix |
| title_fullStr | Persistence and Transfer of Foodborne Pathogens to Sunflower and Pea Shoot Microgreens during Production in Soil-Free Cultivation Matrix |
| title_full_unstemmed | Persistence and Transfer of Foodborne Pathogens to Sunflower and Pea Shoot Microgreens during Production in Soil-Free Cultivation Matrix |
| title_short | Persistence and Transfer of Foodborne Pathogens to Sunflower and Pea Shoot Microgreens during Production in Soil-Free Cultivation Matrix |
| title_sort | persistence and transfer of foodborne pathogens to sunflower and pea shoot microgreens during production in soil free cultivation matrix |
| topic | microgreens peat vermiculite growing mats <i>Salmonella</i> spp. <i>Listeria monocytogenes</i> |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2311-7524/7/11/446 |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT wenjundeng persistenceandtransferoffoodbornepathogenstosunflowerandpeashootmicrogreensduringproductioninsoilfreecultivationmatrix AT ginammisra persistenceandtransferoffoodbornepathogenstosunflowerandpeashootmicrogreensduringproductioninsoilfreecultivationmatrix AT christopherabaker persistenceandtransferoffoodbornepathogenstosunflowerandpeashootmicrogreensduringproductioninsoilfreecultivationmatrix AT kristenegibson persistenceandtransferoffoodbornepathogenstosunflowerandpeashootmicrogreensduringproductioninsoilfreecultivationmatrix |