Differential Survivability of Two Genetically Similar Salmonella Thompson Strains on Pre-harvest Sweet Basil (Ocimum basilicum) Leaves

• DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2021.740983
• Publication Date: 2021-12-07T13:56:22Z
• Authors: Ye Htut Zwe; Michelle Mei Zhen...; Xinyi Pang; Chun Hong Wong; Dan Li
• Keywords: Sweet Basil

Although conventionally considered an animal pathogen, recent evidence increasingly suggests that fresh produce may act as significant transmission vehicles and alternative hosts to Salmonella . This study reports the differential survivability of two genetically similar Thompson strains (ST 889B ST 688C) on adaxial surface pre-harvest basil ( Ocimum basilicum ) leaves. Upon inoculation, distinct phenomena, a dried water-print or macroscopic lesion, were observed within 24 h. survived better than 688C healthy-looking leaves without lesions, possibly due its higher biofilm-forming ability. Both with lesions 688C: 4.39 ± 0.68 vs. 2.18 0.29; 889B: 4.78 0.12 2.83 0.18 log CFU per sample at 6 days post-inoculation). caused formation frequency [70/117 (59.8%)] [35/96 (36.5%)]. Thus, we highlighted survival strategies in pathosystem demonstrated gene expression polymorphism (variations same set genes) indispensable strategy colonization plants by human pathogens.