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Use of a simple catalase assay for assessment of aerobic microbial contamination on vegetables

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Abstract

This paper presents a rapid catalase test for monitoring the aerobic microbial contamination associated with vegetables. The microbial loads of celery, bell pepper and ready-to-eat salad were serially tested over a 2-week period under common storage conditions. At each time point, samples were surface-sampled for catalase activity with a Pasteur pipette method in 5 min. Simultaneously, the aerobic viable microbial counts of the samples were determined using PCA, PIA and DRBC plates. It was found that the catalase activity (% gas produced) in the sample is positively correlated to the log concentration of aerobic bacteria and fungi. The catalase activity assay appears to be a fairly effective method for rapid assessment of aerobic microbial contamination on vegetables tested. The model based on the correlation between catalase activity and aerobic microbial loads was established and tested, with results that show accuracy of prediction at higher levels of contamination.

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Acknowledgments

This research was supported by the Maine Agricultural and Forest Experiment Station at the University of Maine with external publication number 3138. We thank Ms. Andrea E. Arguello, Debra Ballou, and Alison Lacombe for assistance with the project. This project received the third place of “The Northern New England (NNE) and Southern New England (SNE) Regional Junior Science and Humanities Symposia.”

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Bangor High School, 885 Broadway, Bangor, ME, 04401, USA

    Rebecca J. Ye

  2. Department of Food Science and Human Nutrition, The University of Maine, 5735 Hitchner Hall, Orono, ME, 04469-5735, USA

    Vivian C. H. Wu

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  1. Rebecca J. Ye
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  2. Vivian C. H. Wu
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Correspondence to Vivian C. H. Wu.

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Ye, R.J., Wu, V.C.H. Use of a simple catalase assay for assessment of aerobic microbial contamination on vegetables. Ann Microbiol 61, 231–236 (2011). https://doi.org/10.1007/s13213-010-0127-z

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s13213-010-0127-z

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