J A Narciso 1 , C M Ference , M A Ritenour , W W Widmer Show Affiliations »
Abstract
AIMS: To show that application of copper hydroxide citrus sprays mixed with field source water (possibly contaminated) will not support Escherichia coli on plant surfaces. Environmental stresses of transient phyllosphere bacteria and presence of copper will eradicate these bacteria before harvest. METHODS AND RESULTS: Studies were performed in vitro with bacteria grown in broth and then subjected to field spray copper hydroxide concentrations in the broth and on citrus leaves. Escherichia coli exposed to copper hydroxide in vitro were eradicated from the broth within 6-8 h depending on the broth pH. Even with near neutral pH (7·2), cells began to die immediately after exposure to copper. No E. coli survived on leaf surfaces sprayed with copper. CONCLUSIONS: Copper field sprays mixed with water that may contain E. coli can help eliminate E. coli from plant surfaces. SIGNIFICANCE AND IMPACT OF THE STUDY: HACCP mandates are becoming more restrictive because of the increased illness resulting from food pathogens on fresh produce. Use of potable water in fields, a proposed mandate, is not feasible for large grove owners. These data show that copper sprays aimed at reducing citrus canker also affect E. coli and may help to ease water quality mandates. © No claim to US Government works. Letters in Applied Microbiology
AIMS: To show that application of copper hydroxide citrus sprays mixed with field source water (possibly contaminated) will not support Escherichia coli on plant surfaces. Environmental stresses of transient phyllosphere bacteria and presence of copper will eradicate these bacteria before harvest. METHODS AND RESULTS: Studies were performed in vitro with bacteria grown in broth and then subjected to field spray copper hydroxide concentrations in the broth and on citrus leaves. Escherichia coli exposed to copper hydroxide in vitro were eradicated from the broth within 6-8 h depending on the broth pH. Even with near neutral pH (7·2), cells began to die immediately after exposure to copper . No E. coli survived on leaf surfaces sprayed with copper . CONCLUSIONS: Copper field sprays mixed with water that may contain E. coli can help eliminate E. coli from plant surfaces. SIGNIFICANCE AND IMPACT OF THE STUDY: HACCP mandates are becoming more restrictive because of the increased illness resulting from food pathogens on fresh produce. Use of potable water in fields, a proposed mandate, is not feasible for large grove owners. These data show that copper sprays aimed at reducing citrus canker also affect E. coli and may help to ease water quality mandates. © No claim to US Government works. Letters in Applied Microbiology
© 2011 The Society for Applied Microbiology.
Entities: Chemical
Species
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Year: 2011
PMID： 22098250 DOI： 10.1111/j.1472-765X.2011.03179.x
Source DB: PubMed Journal: Lett Appl Microbiol ISSN： 0266-8254 Impact factor: 2.858