Effects of 1-methylcyclopropene and gaseous ozone on Listeria innocua survival and fruit quality of Granny Smith apples during long-term commercial cold storage. (April 2022)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Sheng, Lina; Shen, Xiaoye; Su, Yuan; Xue, Yansong; Gao, Hui; Mendoza, Manoella; Green, Tonia; Hanrahan, Ines; Zhu, Mei-Jun
• Is Part Of: Food microbiology. Volume 102(2022)
• Publication Date: 2022-04
• Subjects: Listeria innocua -- Apple -- Commercial storage -- 1-Methylcyclopropene -- Gaseous ozone; Food Microbiology -- Periodicals; Aliments -- Microbiologie -- Périodiques; Food -- Microbiology; Periodicals; Food -- Microbiology -- Periodicals; Food contamination -- Periodicals; 664.001579
• DOI: 10.1016/j.fm.2021.103922
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0740-0020

Abstract

Abstract: This study evaluated the impact of 1-methylcyclopropene (1-MCP), an ethylene synthesis inhibitor, followed by long-term commercial cold storage with low-dose gaseous ozone on the microbiological safety and quality of fresh apples. Granny Smith apples were inoculated with or without Listeria innocua, treated with or without 1.0 mg/L 1-MCP for 24 h, then subjected to commercial cold storage conditions including refrigerated air (RA, 0.6 °C, control), controlled atmosphere (CA, 2% O2, 1% CO2, 0.6 °C), and CA with 51–87 μg/L ozone gas for up to 36 weeks. RA storage reduced L. innocua on apples by up to 3.6 log10 CFU/apple. CA had no advantage over RA in controlling Listeria. Continuous ozone gas application resulted in an additional ∼2.0 log10 CFU/apple reduction of L. innocua (total reduction up to 5.7 log10 CFU/apple) and suppressed native bacteria and fungi. Treatment with 1-MCP had a minor impact on survival of L. innocua or background microbiota on apples, while it significantly delayed fruit ripening and reduced the incidence of superficial scald and internal browning. In summary, 1-MCP treatment followed by CA storage with low-dose continuous ozone gas can effectively control Listeria on fresh apples and delay fruit ripening. Highlights: Long-term low-dose ozone gas treatment reduced L. innocua on apples by > 5.0 log. Continuous ozone gas application at low doses suppressed apple native microbiota. 1-MCP treatment had a minor impact on the antimicrobial effect of ozone gas. 1-MCP and ozone delayed fruit ripening and reduced the incidence of some disorders.