ARS | Publication request: BIOCONTROL OF LISTERIA MONOCYTOGENES ON FRESH-CUT HONEYDEW MELONS USING A BACTERIAL ANTAGONIST AND BACTERIOPHAGE

Submitted to: Phytopathology
Publication Type: Abstract
Publication Acceptance Date: May 23, 2006
Publication Date: June 26, 2006
Citation: Hong, Y., Leverentz, B., Conway, W.S., Janisiewicz, W.J., Abadias, M., Camp, M.J. 2006. Biocontrol of listeria monocytogenes on fresh-cut honeydew melons using a bacterial antagonist and bacteriophage. Phytopathology. 96:S51.

Technical Abstract: Honeydew melon pieces were treated with either Gluconobacter asaii (a bacterial antagonist naturally occurring on apple fruit) or a bacteriophage cocktail or a combination of the two, then contaminated with an outbreak strain of Listeria monocytogenes. While phage and G. asaii alone were effective antagonists of L. monocytogenes, the combination was even more effective. G. asaii alone reduced populations approximately 3-4 logs and phage alone reduced populations by one log compared to the l. monocytogenes control over 7 days. The combination reduced L. monocytogenes populations by one log by day 2 and up to 6 logs by day 7. The phage treatment had an immediate inhibitory effect while G. asaii controlled the pathogen over time. These results show the beneficial effects of combining the two treatments.