Skip to main content
Applied Microbiology logoLink to Applied Microbiology
. 1967 Nov;15(6):1303–1308. doi: 10.1128/am.15.6.1303-1308.1967

Spherical Lactic Acid-producing Bacteria of Southern-grown Raw and Processed Vegetables

J Orvin Mundt 1, Wanda F Graham 1, I E McCarty 1
PMCID: PMC547188  PMID: 16349739

Abstract

The frequency and levels of population of the spherical lactic acid-producing bacteria were determined on raw and processed yellow summer and zucchini squash, a variety of greens, green beans, okra, southern peas, and butter and lima beans, and on fresh cucumbers and corn flowers. Six taxa occurred consistently: Leuconostoc mesenteroides, yellow-pigmented streptococci, Streptococcus faecium, Aerococcus viridans, and S. faecalis and S. faecalis var. liquefaciens. The same taxa occurred with the same order of frequency on processed, frozen vegetables, but with a marked decrease in the occurrence of S. faecalis var. liquefaciens. S. lactis, S. cremoris, S. equinus, S. bovis, and pediococci were isolated infrequently. No other member of the viridans group of the streptococci and no member of the pyogenic group was isolated. Approximately 88% of the cultures were identified. Total counts of the lactic-acid-producing bacteria rarely exceeded 105 per gram of sample, and there was a reduction by 90% during the second year of study, probably because of drought. Only one bacterial species was found on 40% of the raw and 34% of the processed vegetable samples. Two or more species or taxa were present on the remainder of 153 raw and 56 processed vegetable samples. A. viridans was present on squash, greens, okra, and southern peas, and its frequency of occurrence on vegetables suggests that plants are its natural habitat.

Full text

PDF
1303

Selected References

These references are in PubMed. This may not be the complete list of references from this article.

  1. BARNES E. M. Tetrazolium reduction as a means of differentiating Streptococcus faecalis from Streptococcus faecium. J Gen Microbiol. 1956 Feb;14(1):57–68. doi: 10.1099/00221287-14-1-57. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  2. DEIBEL R. H., NIVEN C. F., Jr Comparative study of Gaffkya homari, Aerococcus viridans, tetrad-forming cocci from meat curing brines, and the genus Pediococcus. J Bacteriol. 1960 Feb;79:175–180. doi: 10.1128/jb.79.2.175-180.1960. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  3. FISCHER J. Nachweismethode für eingepflanzte körperfremde Enterokokken (D-Streptokokken) und ihre klinische Brauchbarkeit. Zentralbl Bakteriol Orig. 1958 May;171(4-5):264–280. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  4. GELDREICH E. E., KENNER B. A., KABLER P. W. OCCURRENCE OF COLIFORMS, FECAL COLIFORMS, AND STREPTOCOCCI ON VEGETATION AND INSECTS. Appl Microbiol. 1964 Jan;12:63–69. doi: 10.1128/am.12.1.63-69.1964. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  5. MUNDT J. O. Occurrence of enterococci on plants in a wild environment. Appl Microbiol. 1963 Mar;11:141–144. doi: 10.1128/am.11.2.141-144.1963. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  6. McCleskey C. S., Faville L. W., Barnett R. O. Characteristics of Leuconostoc mesenteroides from Cane Juice. J Bacteriol. 1947 Dec;54(6):697–708. doi: 10.1128/jb.54.6.697-708.1947. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  7. Mundt J. O., Anandam E. J., McCarty I. E. Streptococceae in the atmosphere of plants processing vegetables for freezing. Health Lab Sci. 1966 Oct;3(4):207–213. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  8. Mundt J. O. Occurrence of Enterococci: Bud, Blossom, and Soil Studies. Appl Microbiol. 1961 Nov;9(6):541–544. doi: 10.1128/am.9.6.541-544.1961. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  9. Niven C. F., Smiley K. L., Sherman J. M. The Hydrolysis of Arginine by Streptococci. J Bacteriol. 1942 Jun;43(6):651–660. doi: 10.1128/jb.43.6.651-660.1942. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  10. Stark P., Sherman J. M. Concerning the Habitat of Streptococcus lactis. J Bacteriol. 1935 Dec;30(6):639–646. doi: 10.1128/jb.30.6.639-646.1935. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  11. WHITTENBURY R. THE DIFFERENTIATION OF STREPTOCOCCUS FAECALIS AND S. FAECIUM. J Gen Microbiol. 1965 Feb;38:279–287. doi: 10.1099/00221287-38-2-279. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  12. WILLIAMS R. E., HIRCH A., COWAN S. T. Aerococcus, a new bacterial genus. J Gen Microbiol. 1953 Jun;8(3):475–480. doi: 10.1099/00221287-8-3-475. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]

Articles from Applied Microbiology are provided here courtesy of American Society for Microbiology (ASM)

RESOURCES