Microculture model studies on the effect of various gas atmospheres on microbial growth at different temperatures

Abstract

A microculture technique, employing 96-well tissue culture plates in plastic bags, was used to test the effect of different gas atmospheres (vacuum, air, N2 and CO2) on the growth of Escherichia coli, Bacillus macerans, Salmonella typhimurium, Candida albicans, Lactobacillus plantarum, Pseudomonas/Acinetobacter/Moraxella-group, Brochothrix thermosphacta and Yersinia enterocolitica at 2, 6, and 20.degree. C. In general, CO2 was the most effective inhibitor. The inhibition increased with decreasing temperature. Only the combination of CO2 and 2.degree. C provided complete inhibition of B. thermosphacta and Y. enterocolitica. These results are relevant to food storage in controlled atmospheres.