Effects of Storage Methods and Duration on the Microbial Composition and Load of Tomato (Solanum Lycopersicum [L.], Solanaceae) Fruits

Year 2019, , 1 - 7, 28.06.2019

Matthew Chidozie Ogwu

https://doi.org/10.17678/beuscitech.378001

Cited By: 5

Abstract

Tomato
is a widely cultivated fruit vegetable in Nigeria. They are valued for their
fruits, which are consumed fresh or processed. The method and duration of
storage have profound effects on the economic value and utilization of the
fruits. Therefore, this study was set up to investigate the efficacy of three
common storage methods (plastic basket, concrete floor and refrigeration at 4 ^oC)
by conducting microbial assessment. Freshly harvested fruits were sourced from
two locations in Benin City, Nigeria and stored for a period of four weeks. Microbial composition and load was determined
using standard laboratory techniques initially (on the first day) and every
week afterwards. Results showed that the microbial load increased with
prolonged storage. Tomato fruits stored in plastic basket had the highest mean
total microbial count (132 × 10⁵ CFU/mL), whereas those stored in the refrigerator had the least
(3 × 10⁵
CFU/mL).
The common microorganisms isolated from the stored fruits include the fungi; Aspergillus niger, A. flavus, Rhizopus, Penicillium spp., and
yeast cells as well as the bacteria; Staphylococcus
sp. E. coli, Salmonella and Enterobacter
spp. These results suggest that refrigeration will extend the shelf life of
tomato fruits and minimize the rate of spoilage due to microbial composition
and load

Keywords

Tomato (Solanum lycopersicum), Microbial load, Economic plants, Fruitosphere

References

• Artes, F., Gomez, P. A. G., Artes-Hernandez, F., 2006. Modified atmosphere packaging of fruits and vegetables. Stewart Postharvest Review, 2(5): 1–13. Baker, S., 2006. Aspergillus niger genomi cs: past, present and into the future. Medical Mycology, 44(1): S17 – 21. Barnett, H L., Hunter, B.B., 1998. Illustrated Genera of Imperfect Fungi. Fourth Edition. Aps Press, USA. 218p Barth, M., Hankinson, T.R., Zhuang, H., Breidt, F., 2009. Microbiological Spoilage of Fruits and Vegetables. In: Sperber, W.H., Doyle, M.P. (eds.). Compendium of the Microbiological Spoilage of Foods and Beverages, Food Microbiology and Food Safety. 135-183pp. DOI 10.1007/978-1-4419-0826-1_6 Bello, O. B., Olawuyi, O. J., Azeez, A. H., Adebisi, O. S., Owoade T. A., 2016. Microorganisms causing postharvest tomato (Solanum lycopersicum L.) fruit decay in nigeria. Scientia Agriculturae, 13(2): 93 – 96. Beuchat, L. R., 2006. Vectors and conditions for pre-harvest contamination of fruits and vegetables with pathogens capable of causing enteric diseases. Britain food Journal, 108: 38 – 53. Beuchat, L. R., 1996. Pathogenic organisms associated with fresh produce. Journal of Food Protection, 59: 204 – 216. Chiejina, N. V., Ukeh, J. A., 2012. Antimicrobial properties and phytochemical analysis of methanolic extracts of Aframomum melegueta and Zingiber officinale on fungal diseases of Tomato fruit. Journal of Natural Sciences Research, 2(6): 2224 – 3186. Chime, A. O., Aiwansoba, R.O., Danagogo, S. J., Egharevba, I. I., Osawaru, M. E. and Ogwu, M. C., 2016. Effects of linning wih leaves of Triclisia dictyophylla on the fungal composition of Cola nitida during storage. Journal of Industrial Research and Technology, 5(2): 128 – 136 Chime, A.O., Aiwansoba, R.O., Eze, C.J., Osawaru, M.E., Ogwu, M.C., 2017a. Phenotypic characterization of tomato Solanum lycopersicum L.cultivars from Southern Nigeria using morphology. Malaya Journal of Biosciences, 4(1): 31 – 38 Chime, A.O., Aiwansoba, R.O., Osawaru, M.E., Ogwu, M. C., 2017b. Morphological Evaluation of Tomato (Solanum lycopersicum Linn.) Cultivars. Makara Journal of Science, 21(2): 97 -106. doi: 10.7454/mss.v21i2.7421 Chinedu, S. M., Enya, E., 2014. Isolation of Microorganisms associated with deterioration of tomato (Lycopersicon esculentum) and pawpaw (Carica papaya) fruits. International Journal Curricular Microbiology and Applied Science, 3(5): 501 – 512. Chukwu, E. C, Ogbonna, D. N, Onuegbu, B. A., Adeleke, M. T., 2008. Comparative studies on the fungi and biochemical characteristics of snake guard (Trichosanthes Curcumerina Linn.) and Tomato (Lycopersicon Esculentum Mill.) in Rivers State, Nigeria. Journal of Applied Science, 8(1): 168 – 172. Codina, R., Fox, R.W., Lockey, R. F., DeMarco, P. and Bagg, A., 2008. Typical levels of airborne fungal spores in houses without obvious moisture problems during a rainy season in Florida, USA. J. Investig Allergol Clin. Immunol., 18(3): 156-162. Cowan, S.T., 1974. Cowan and Steel’s manual for the identification of medical bacteria. Second Edition. Cambridge University Press. 678p Damicone, J. P., Lynn B. 2013. Common Diseases of Tomatoes - Part II Diseases Caused by Bacteria, Viruses, and Nematodes. Oklahoma Cooperative Extension Service, Division of Agricultural Sciences and Natural Resources -Oklahoma State University. Domsch, K. H., Gams, W., 1970. Pilze aus Agrarboden. Gustav Fischer, Germany. 571p Domsch, K.M., Gams, W., Anderson, T., 1993. Compendium of Soil Fungi. Volume 1, Second Edition. Academic Press, London. 860 pp. Ghosh, A., 2009. Identification of microorganisms responsible for spoilage of tomato (Lycopersicum esculentum) fruit. Journal of Phytology, 1(6): 414 – 416. Hillock, D., 2011 Year of the Tomato. National Garden Bureau [Online] [Available at: http://www.ngb.org/year_of/index.cfm?YOID=16.] [Accessed: 5 – 21 – 2017]. Holt, J.G., Krieg, N.R., Sneath, P.H.A., Staley, J.T., Williams, S.T., 1994. Bergey’s Manual of Determinative Bacteriology. Ninth Edition. Williams and Wilkins. 561p. Kader, A. A., 1983. Physiological and biochemical effects of carbon monoxide added to controlled atmospheres on fruits. Acta Horticulturae, 138: 221–226. Mbah, C. N., 2006. Influence of organic wastes of plant growth parameters and nutrient uptake by maize (Zea mays L.). Nigeria Journal of Soil Science, 16: 104 – 108. McGriffen, M. E., Pantome, D. J. and Maisuna, J. B., 1994. Path analysis of tomato yield components in relation completion with block and eastern nightshade. Journal of America Society of Horticultural Science, 119: 6 – 11. Mukhtar, I. S., Mushtaq, A. A. and Khokhar, I., 2012. Phyllospheric microflora of Cuscuta pedicillata Ledeb and its host Trifolium alexandrium L. Sarhad Journal of Agriculture, 28(3):437-441 Mukhtar, I., Mushtaq, S., Ali, A., Khokhar, I., 2010. Epiphytic and endophytic phyllosphere microflora of Cassytha filiformis L. and its hosts. Ecoprint, 17: 1-8 Murali, J. K., Asish, B., Kumar, P. S., 2013. Phytochemical analysis and antimicrobial studies of various extracts of Tomato (Solanium lycopersicum L.). Scholars Academic Journal of Biosciences, 1(2): 34 – 38. Naseer, U., Hajera, T., Ali, M. N., Ponia, K., 2012. Evaluation of antibacterial activity of five selected fruits on bacterial wound isolates. International Journal Pharmacy Biological Science, 3(4): 531 – 546. Ogwu, M. C., Osawaru, M. E., 2014. Comparative Study of Microflora Population on the Phylloplane of Common Okra [Abelmoschus esculentus L. (Moench.)]. Nig J. Biotech., 28: 17-25 Ogwu, M. C., Osawaru, M. E.,2015. Soil characteristics, microbial compostion of plot, leaf count and sprout studies of cocoyam (Colocasia [Schott] and Xanthosoma [Schott], Araceae) Collected in Edo State, Southern Nigeria. Science, Technology and Arts Research Journal, 4(1): 34-44. DOI: 10.4314/star.v4i1.5 Ogwu, M. C., Chime, A.O., Osawaru, M. E., Ogunoye, A. O., 2016b. Microbial evaluation of four accessions of tomato (Solanum lycopersicum [Lin.] Con. Solanaceae). Proceeding of the International Conference on Natural Resource Development and Utilization 4th Edition. 232 – 244 pp Ogwu, M. C., Osawaru, M. E., Aiwansoba, R. O. and Iroh, R. N. 2016a. Status and prospects of vegetables in Africa. Proceedings of NTBA/NSCB Joint Biodiversity Conference; Unilorin 2016. 47 - 57pp Okoli C. A. N., Erinle I. D. 1990. Comparative rate of rot induction by nine fungal pathogens on stored tomato fruits in Nigeria. Journal of Stored Products Research, 26: 17 – 90. Onuorah, S., Orji M.U. 2015. Fungi Associated with the Spoilage of Post-harvest Tomato Fruits Sold in Major Markets in Awka, Nigeria. Universal Journal of Microbiology Research, 3(2): 11-16, 2015 http://www.hrpub.org DOI: 10.13189/ujmr.2015.030201 Osawaru, M. E., Ogwu, M. C., Ogbeifun, N. S., Chime, A. O. 2013. Microflora diversity on the phyloplane of wild okra (Corchorus olitorius L. Jute). Bayero Journal of Pure and Applied Sciences, 6(2): 136 – 142. http://dx.doi.org/10.4314/bajopas.v6i2.29 Renard, M. G. C. C., Ginies, C., Gouble, B., Bureau, S., Causse, M., 2013. Home conservation strategies for tomato (Solanum lycopersicum): Storage temperature vs. duration - Is there a compromise for better aroma preservation? Food Chemistry, 139: 825 – 836. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.foodchem.2013.01.038 Romero, F.M., Marina, M., Pieckenstain, F.L., 2014. The communities of tomato (Solanum lycopersicum L.) leaf endophytic bacteria, analyzed by 16S-ribosomal RNA gene pyrosequencing. FEMS Microbiol. Lett., 351: 187–194. DOI: 10.1111/1574-6968.12377 Salunkhe, D. K. and Norton, R. A. 1960. Prepackaging treatments extend storage life of fruit. Utah Agricultural Experiment Station for Farm and Home Science Bull. 21p. Simonne, A.H., Behe, B.K., Marshall, M.M., 2006. Consumers prefer low-priced and high-lycopene-content fresh-market tomatoes. HortTechnology, 16(4): 674-681. Singh, B., Littlefield, N.A., Salunkhe, D. K. 1970. Effect of CA storage on amino acids, sugar, and rate of respiration of Lambert sweet cherry fruit. Journal of America Society for Horticultural Science, 95: 458 – 461. Tahir, I.I., Johansson, E., Olsson, M.E., 2009. Improvement of apple quality and storability by a combination of heat treatment and controlled atmosphere storage. HortScience, 44: 1648–1654 Toor, R.K., Savage, G.P., 2006. Changes in major antioxidant components of tomatoes during post-harvest storage. Food Chemistry, 99: 724-727. Wogu, M. D., Ofuase, O., 2014. Microorganisms responsible for the spoilage of tomato .fruits, Lycopersicum esculentum, sold in markets in Benin City, Southern Nigeria. School Academic Journal of Biological science, 2(7): 459 – 466.