Table 3.
Yeast and mold loads of fruit samples.
| Treatments | Yeast | Molds | ||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 0 d | 2 d | 4 d | 7 d | 10 d | 0 d | 2 d | 4 d | 7 d | 10 d | |
| CTR | <2a | <2a | 3.21 ± 0.17a | 3.64 ± 0.23a | 3.97 ± 0.15a | <2a | <2a | <2a | 3.88 ± 0.17a | 4.46 ± 0.17a |
| AVG | <2a | <2a | 2.55 ± 0.14b | 2.87 ± 0.19b | 3.37 ± 0.20b | <2a | <2a | <2a | 3.13 ± 0.10b | 3.71 ± 0.09b |
| HPMC | <2a | <2a | 2.21 ± 0.25b | 2.44 ± 0.27b | 3.05 ± 0.25b | <2a | <2a | <2a | 2.84 ± 0.25b | 3.65 ± 0.21b |
| LEO | <2a | <2a | 2.29 ± 0.29b | 2.50 ± 0.23b | 3.07 ± 0.10b | <2a | <2a | <2a | 2.90 ± 0.21b | 3.67 ± 0.20b |
| p-value | NS | NS | 0.002 | 0.001 | 0.001 | NS | NS | NS | 0.001 | 0.001 |
Units are log CFU/g. Results indicate mean values ± S.D. of four plate counts (carried out in triplicate for two independent productions). Data within a column followed by the same letter are not significantly different according to Tukey’s test. Abbreviations: CTR, uncoated fruit slices, AVG, fruit slices coated with 40% v/w of Aloe vera gel only, HPMC, fruit slices coated with 40% v/w of Aloe vera gel + 0.1% v/w of hydroxypropyl methylcellulose, LEO, fruit slices coated with 40% v/w of Aloe vera gel + 0.1% v/w of lemon essential oil, TMM, total mesophilic microorganisms, TPM, total psychrotrophic microorganisms and NS, not significant (p-value ≥ 0.05).