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Efficacy of Sulfuric Acid Scarification and Disinfectant Treatments in Eliminating Escherichia coli O157: H7 from Alfalfa Seeds Prior to Sprouting
Author(s) -
Pandrangi S.,
Elwell M.W.,
Anantheswaran R.C.,
Laborde L.F.
Publication year - 2003
Publication title -
journal of food science
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.772
H-Index - 150
eISSN - 1750-3841
pISSN - 0022-1147
DOI - 10.1111/j.1365-2621.2003.tb05719.x
Subject(s) - scarification , hand sanitizer , chlorine , germination , chemistry , disinfectant , sprouting , inoculation , sulfuric acid , food science , horticulture , biology , organic chemistry , dormancy
E. coli O157:H7 reduction on inoculated alfalfa seeds was investigated using acid scarification treatments with or without subsequent application of sanitizers. Scarification with 0.1 to 2N H 2 SO 4 for 2.5 to 45 min did not affect (p ≤ 0.05) seed viability. E. coli O157:H7 was reduced by 2.1 to 5.0 logs after treating with 0.1 to 2N H 2 SO 4 for 5 to 20 min. Combined scarification (0.5N H 2 SO 4 ) and H 2 O 2 or CH 3 COOH treatments enhanced microbial destruction by less than 1 log compared to sanitizer alone. Chlorine, Na 2 CO 3 , or Na 3 PO 4 treatments preceded by scarification did not significantly increase microbial destruction compared to sanitizer alone. Appreciable reductions in seed germination were only observed with chlorine treatments.