Microbial species associated with different sections of broccoli harvestedfrom three regions in Australia

The microbial populations associated with the different sections of broccol i harvested from three locations in Australia were studied during storage a t 5, 15 and 20 degrees C. Bacterial and yeast populations associated with t he outer florets and cut surfaces of the stem were generally 10-fold or mor e higher than those associated with inner florets or non-cut stems, respect ively. The predominating bacterial species varied with the origin of the br occoli. Pseudomonas fluorescens, Ps. corrugata and Ps. viridiflava predomin ated at populations of 10(5)-10(7) cfu/g on broccoli harvested from Victori a, Ps. fluorescens, Ps. mendocina and Ps. fragii and Arthrobacter spp. (10( 3)-10(6) cfu/g) were prevalent on broccoli harvested from Queensland. Brocc oli harvested From New South Wales exhibited a predominance of Ps. fluoresc ens, Arthrobacter spp. and Enterobacter agglomerans (10(3)-10(5) cfu/g). Mo st species grew on broccoli during storage. Similar species were found at t he different sections of broccoli, although, for some species there was evi dence of strain variation at the different locations and For different temp erature of storage. (C) 2000 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.