TABLE 4.

Mean populations of all 4 S. enterica strains recovered from different tissue sections of each type of sprouts/seedlings over the 9-day germination period

Seed type	Mean population (log CFU/g)a
	Cotyledon	Seed coat	Root	Seed coat/cotyledon	Stem	Pregerminated seeds
Fenugreek	4.38 A*	4.24 A*	3.23 B*	2.52 B,C†	2.61 B*	1.59 C†
Alfalfa	4.21 A*	4.18 A*	2.99 B*	4.73 A*	2.68 B*	3.14 B*
Tomato	1.59 A†	1.21 A†	1.56 A†	1.14 A,B†‡	0.86 B†	0.00 B‡
Lettuce	1.75 A*†	1.44 A†	1.45 A†	0.00 B‡	0.85 B†	0.00 B‡

^aMean values within a column that are not followed by the same symbol (*, †, or ‡) are significantly different (P < 0.05). Mean values within a row that are not followed by the same uppercase letters are significantly different (P < 0.05).