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अमूर्त

Microbial Evaluation and Control of Microbes in Commercially Available Date (Phoenix dactylifera Lynn.) Fruits

Ragava SC, Loganathan M, Vidhyalakshmi R and Vimalin HJ

Commercially available date fruit samples in different forms were collected and tested for the initial microbial load. Various types of bacterial and fungal species were observed from the test results. Food borne pathogens like S. aureus was identified in collected samples. Pet Jar Seedless and Polythene Seeded packs contained more amounts of microbes. So samples from these types are taken and subjected to physical control parameters like refrigeration, deep freezing, heat treatment and irradiation. The radiation and hot air oven treatments contain different time intervals and packed aseptically and stored in room temperature. Samples also kept in refrigerator and in deep freezer for cold treatments. Then the samples kept as undisturbed for 30 days. Based on 15th and 30th day microbial counts from samples, it is observed that deep freezing and refrigeration has more positive effect to control the level of microbes and it is concluded that refrigeration is the best way to control microbes in date (Phoenix. dactylifera. Lynn.) fruits.