Disinfection of mung bean seed with gaseous acetic acid

Mung bean seed inoculated with Salmonella Typhimurium, Escherichia coli O15 7:H7, and Listeria monocytogenes (3 to 5 log CFU/g) was exposed to gaseous acetic acid in an aluminum fumigation chamber. Salmonella Typhimurium and E . coli O157:H7 were not detected by enrichment of seeds treated with 242 mu l of acetic acid per liter of air for 12 h at 45 degrees C. L. monocytogen es was recovered by enrichment from two of 10 25-g seed samples treated in this manner. Fumigation with gaseous acetic acid was also lethal to indigen ous bacteria and fungi on mung bean seed. The treatment did not significant ly reduce seed germination rates, and no differences in surface microstruct ure were observed between treated and untreated seed viewed by scanning ele ctron microscopy.