Baseline survey of the anatomical microbial ecology of an important food plant: Solanum lycopersicum (tomato).

ABSTRACT:

Background

Research to understand and control microbiological risks associated with the consumption of fresh fruits and vegetables has examined many environments in the farm to fork continuum. An important data gap however, that remains poorly studied is the baseline description of microflora that may be associated with plant anatomy either endemically or in response to environmental pressures. Specific anatomical niches of plants may contribute to persistence of human pathogens in agricultural environments in ways we have yet to describe. Tomatoes have been implicated in outbreaks of Salmonella at least 17 times during the years spanning 1990 to 2010. Our research seeks to provide a baseline description of the tomato microbiome and possibly identify whether or not there is somethi

SUBMITTER: Ottesen AR 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC3680157 | biostudies-literature | 2013 May

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature