Mould and yeast flora in fresh berries, grapes and citrus fruits. 2005

V H Tournas, and Eugenia Katsoudas
Center for Food Safety and Applied Nutrition, Food and Drug Administration, College Park, MD 20740, USA. vtournas@cfsan.fda.gov

Fresh fruits are prone to fungal contamination in the field, during harvest, transport, marketing, and with the consumer. It is important to identify fungal contaminants in fresh fruits because some moulds can grow and produce mycotoxins on these commodities while certain yeasts and moulds can cause infections or allergies. In this study, 251 fresh fruit samples including several varieties of grapes, strawberries, blueberries, raspberries, blackberries, and various citrus fruits were surface-disinfected, incubated at room temperature for up to 14 days without supplemental media, and subsequently examined for mould and yeast growth. The level of contamination (percent of contaminated items/sample) varied depending on the type of fruit. All raspberry and blackberry samples were contaminated at levels ranging from 33% to 100%, whereas 95% of the blueberry samples supported mould growth at levels between 10% and 100% of the tested berries, and 97% of strawberry samples showed fungal growth on 33-100% of tested berries. The most common moulds isolated from these commodities were Botrytis cinerea, Rhizopus (in strawberries), Alternaria, Penicillium, Cladosporium and Fusarium followed by yeasts, Trichoderma and Aureobasidium. Thirty-five percent of the grape samples tested were contaminated and supported fungal growth; the levels of contamination ranged from 9% to 80%. The most common fungi spoiling grapes were Alternaria, B. cinerea and Cladosporium. Eighty-three percent of the citrus fruit samples showed fungal growth at levels ranging from 25% to 100% of tested fruits. The most common fungi in citrus fruits were Alternaria, Cladosporium, Penicillium, Fusarium and yeasts. Less common were Trichoderma, Geotrichum and Rhizopus.

UI MeSH Term Description Entries
D002957 Citrus A plant genus of the family RUTACEAE. They bear the familiar citrus fruits including oranges, grapefruit, lemons, and limes. There are many hybrids which makes the nomenclature confusing. Citron Tree,Fruit, Citrus,Lemon Tree,Orange Tree, Bitter,Orange Tree, Mandarin,Orange Tree, Seville,Orange Tree, Sour,Pomelo Tree,Pummelo Tree,Tangerine Tree,Citrus Fruit,Citrus aurantium,Citrus bergamia,Citrus grandis,Citrus hystrix,Citrus limon,Citrus maxima,Citrus medica,Citrus reticulata,Kaffir Lime,Bitter Orange Tree,Bitter Orange Trees,Citron Trees,Citrus aurantiums,Citrus bergamias,Citrus grandi,Citrus hystrices,Citrus medicas,Citrus reticulatas,Lemon Trees,Lime, Kaffir,Mandarin Orange Tree,Mandarin Orange Trees,Orange Trees, Bitter,Orange Trees, Mandarin,Orange Trees, Seville,Orange Trees, Sour,Pomelo Trees,Pummelo Trees,Seville Orange Tree,Seville Orange Trees,Sour Orange Tree,Sour Orange Trees,Tangerine Trees,Tree, Bitter Orange,Tree, Citron,Tree, Lemon,Tree, Mandarin Orange,Tree, Pomelo,Tree, Pummelo,Tree, Seville Orange,Tree, Sour Orange,Tree, Tangerine,Trees, Bitter Orange,Trees, Citron,Trees, Lemon,Trees, Mandarin Orange,Trees, Pomelo,Trees, Pummelo,Trees, Seville Orange,Trees, Sour Orange,Trees, Tangerine,aurantium, Citrus,bergamia, Citrus,hystrices, Citrus,maxima, Citrus,medicas, Citrus,reticulata, Citrus
D003257 Consumer Product Safety The sum total of measures taken and regulatory policies enacted to ensure the safe use of consumer products. Safety, Consumer Product,Product Approval,Product Approvals,Product Safety, Consumer
D005506 Food Contamination The presence in food of harmful, unpalatable, or otherwise objectionable foreign substances, e.g. chemicals, microorganisms or diluents, before, during, or after processing or storage. Food Adulteration,Adulteration, Food,Adulterations, Food,Contamination, Food,Contaminations, Food,Food Adulterations,Food Contaminations
D005516 Food Microbiology The presence of bacteria, viruses, and fungi in food and food products. This term is not restricted to pathogenic organisms: the presence of various non-pathogenic bacteria and fungi in cheeses and wines, for example, is included in this concept. Microbiology, Food
D005638 Fruit The fleshy or dry ripened ovary of a plant, enclosing the seed or seeds. Berries,Legume Pod,Plant Aril,Plant Capsule,Aril, Plant,Arils, Plant,Berry,Capsule, Plant,Capsules, Plant,Fruits,Legume Pods,Plant Arils,Plant Capsules,Pod, Legume,Pods, Legume
D005658 Fungi A kingdom of eukaryotic, heterotrophic organisms that live parasitically as saprobes, including MUSHROOMS; YEASTS; smuts, molds, etc. They reproduce either sexually or asexually, and have life cycles that range from simple to complex. Filamentous fungi, commonly known as molds, refer to those that grow as multicellular colonies. Fungi, Filamentous,Molds,Filamentous Fungi,Filamentous Fungus,Fungus,Fungus, Filamentous,Mold
D006801 Humans Members of the species Homo sapiens. Homo sapiens,Man (Taxonomy),Human,Man, Modern,Modern Man
D015003 Yeasts A general term for single-celled rounded fungi that reproduce by budding. Brewers' and bakers' yeasts are SACCHAROMYCES CEREVISIAE; therapeutic dried yeast is YEAST, DRIED. Yeast
D015169 Colony Count, Microbial Enumeration by direct count of viable, isolated bacterial, archaeal, or fungal CELLS or SPORES capable of growth on solid CULTURE MEDIA. The method is used routinely by environmental microbiologists for quantifying organisms in AIR; FOOD; and WATER; by clinicians for measuring patients' microbial load; and in antimicrobial drug testing. Agar Dilution Count,Colony-Forming Units Assay, Microbial,Fungal Count,Pour Plate Count,Spore Count,Spread Plate Count,Streak Plate Count,Colony Forming Units Assay, Microbial,Colony Forming Units Assays, Microbial,Agar Dilution Counts,Colony Counts, Microbial,Count, Agar Dilution,Count, Fungal,Count, Microbial Colony,Count, Pour Plate,Count, Spore,Count, Spread Plate,Count, Streak Plate,Counts, Agar Dilution,Counts, Fungal,Counts, Microbial Colony,Counts, Pour Plate,Counts, Spore,Counts, Spread Plate,Counts, Streak Plate,Dilution Count, Agar,Dilution Counts, Agar,Fungal Counts,Microbial Colony Count,Microbial Colony Counts,Pour Plate Counts,Spore Counts,Spread Plate Counts,Streak Plate Counts
D027843 Vitis A plant genus in the family Vitaceae. It is a woody vine cultivated worldwide. It is best known for grapes, the edible fruit and used to make WINE and raisins. Grapes,Raisins,Vitis vinifera,Grape,Raisin

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