Salmonella Enteritidis survival in different temperatures and nutrient solution pH levels in hydroponically grown lettuce

A comprehensive examination of microbial hazards and risks during indoor soilless leafy green production

Produce grown under controlled environment agriculture (CEA) is often assumed to have a reduced risk of pathogen contamination due to the low chance of exposure to outdoor contaminant factors. However, the 2021 outbreak and numerous recalls of CEA-grown lettuce and microgreens demonstrate the possibility of pathogen introduction during indoor production when there is a failure in the implementation of food safety management systems. Indoor production of commercial leafy greens, such as lettuce and microgreens, is performed across a range of protective structures from primitive household setups to advanced and partially automatized growing systems. Indoor production systems include hydroponic, aquaponic, and aeroponic configurations. Hydroponic systems such as deep water culture and nutrient film technique comprised of various engineering designs represent the main system types used by growers. Depending on the type of leafy green, the soilless substrate, and system selection, risk of microbial contamination will vary during indoor production. In this literature review, science-based pathogen contamination risks and mitigation strategies for indoor production of microgreens and more mature leafy greens are discussed during both pre-harvest and post-harvest stages of production.

Persistence of Salmonella enterica subsp. enterica ser. Javiana, Listeria monocytogenes, and Listeria innocua in Hydroponic Nutrient Solution

This study aimed to determine the persistence of Salmonella Javiana, Listeria monocytogenes, and Listeria innocua in nonsterile, hydroponic nutrient solution (NS) at 15, 25, 30, and 37°C over a 21-day period to mimic time from seedling to mature lettuce. Bacteria were inoculated in modified Hoagland's NS at 106 CFU/mL and maintained at 15, 25, 30, and 37°C. Samples were collected at various time points, and bacteria were quantified. A mixed model was used to determine the effect of bacteria type, time (day), and temperature on bacteria concentration (log CFU/mL). The least-squares means were calculated to compare the mean log CFU/mL, and the mean values were compared with Tukey-Kramer honest significant difference test with a significance level of P = 0.05. Statistical analysis indicated that a 3-way interaction effect between temperature, time, and bacteria type had a significant impact on bacterial persistence in NS (P < 0.0001). At all temperatures, S. Javiana persisted in NS throughout the 21-day study period, compared to L. innocua and L. monocytogenes where persistence was limited to between 1 and 14 days. Similarly, decimal reduction values (D-values) of S. Javiana indicated longer persistence in NS than L. innocua and L. monocytogenes at most temperatures. For instance, at 15°C and 25°C, D-values for S. Javiana were estimated at 82 and 26 d, respectively, compared to D-values of 3.6 and ∼3 d for L. monocytogenes. Data indicate that the temperature of NS has a differential effect on the persistence of S. Javiana and Listeria spp. This study furthers the understanding of potential food safety risks associated with hydroponic systems and will contribute to the refinement of further studies to aid in the development of operation-specific risk profiles.

Intensive management facilitates bacterial invasion on soil microbial community

Intensive management has greatly altered natural forests, especially forests around the world are increasingly being converted into economic plantations. Soil microbiota are critical for community functions in all ecosystems, but the effects of microbial disturbance during economic plantation remain unclear. Here, we used Escherichia coli O157:H7, a model pathogenic species for bacterial invasion, to assess the invasion impacts on the soil microbial community under intensive management. The E. coli invasion was tracked for 135 days to explore the instant and legacy impacts on the resident community. Our results showed that bamboo economic plantations altered soil abiotic and biotic properties, especially increasing pH and community diversity. Higher pH in bamboo soils resulted in longer pathogen survivals than in natural hardwood soils, indicating that pathogen suppression during intensive management should arouse our attention. A longer invasion legacy effect on the resident community (P < 0.05) were found in bamboo soils underlines the need to quantify the soil resilience even when the invasion was unsuccessful. Deterministic processes drove community assembly in bamboo plantations, and this selection acted more strongly during by E. coli invasion than in hardwood soils. We also showed more associated co-occurrence patterns in bamboo plantations, suggesting more complex potential interactions within the microbial community. Apart from community structure, community functions are also strongly related to the resident species associated with invaders. These findings provide new perspectives to understand intensive management facilitates the bacterial invasion, and the impacts would leave potential risks on environmental and human health.

Plant Beneficial Bacteria and Their Potential Applications in Vertical Farming Systems

In this literature review, we discuss the various functions of beneficial plant bacteria in improving plant nutrition, the defense against biotic and abiotic stress, and hormonal regulation. We also review the recent research on rhizophagy, a nutrient scavenging mechanism in which bacteria enter and exit root cells on a cyclical basis. These concepts are covered in the contexts of soil agriculture and controlled environment agriculture, and they are also used in vertical farming systems. Vertical farming-its advantages and disadvantages over soil agriculture, and the various climatic factors in controlled environment agriculture-is also discussed in relation to plant-bacterial relationships. The different factors under grower control, such as choice of substrate, oxygenation rates, temperature, light, and CO₂ supplementation, may influence plant-bacterial interactions in unintended ways. Understanding the specific effects of these environmental factors may inform the best cultural practices and further elucidate the mechanisms by which beneficial bacteria promote plant growth.

Lettuce Contamination and Survival of Salmonella Typhimurium and Listeria monocytogenes in Hydroponic Nutrient Film Technique Systems

Hydroponic vegetable production is increasing globally, but there is a lack of science-based recommendations to ensure their food safety. Specifically, there is limited evidence for establishing water management strategies. The purpose of this study was to determine the survival of Salmonella Typhimurium and Listeria monocytogenes in commercial nutrient flow technology (NFT) systems during the lifecycle of lettuce exposed to sporadic or extreme contamination. NFT systems were inoculated with Salmonella Typhimurium or Listeria monocytogenes, and nutrient solution, rockwool, roots, and lettuce leaves were collected over the lettuce production cycle for pathogen enumeration and detection. Both human pathogens persisted in the lettuce NFT growing system throughout the growth cycle of lettuce. Salmonella Typhimurium and L. monocytogenes accumulated in rockwool medium and on lettuce roots and were transferred to the leaves at quantifiable levels from the contaminated nutrient solution. In the nutrient solution, Salmonella concentration under sporadic and extreme conditions declined significantly 24 h after inoculation and again 7 days post-inoculation (p < 0.0001). Under extreme conditions, the concentration did not change significantly after 7 days, while under sporadic conditions, the concentration declined again 14 days post-inoculation in the nutrient solution collected from the reservoirs. L. monocytogenes populations in the nutrient solution fluctuated significantly over the 28-day growth cycle (p < 0.0001). Under extreme conditions, L. monocytogenes concentrations in the nutrient solution declined, while under sporadic conditions, the populations increased. The findings of this study, for the first time, describe human pathogen survival in commerical NFT systems and highlight the urgent need for novel approaches to mitigating the risks from nutrient solution contaminaiton in hydroponics.