Evaluation of microbiome and physico-chemical profiles of fresh fruits of Musa paradisiaca, Citrus sinensis and Carica papaya at different ripening stages: Implication to quality and safety management.
Level 5 - mechanism / opinion, no new human data
Level 5 by design analogy (non-clinical laboratory and microbiological study of fruit samples).
PubMed 38289915 · doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0297574
What was done
Microbiome and physicochemical properties were evaluated across three ripening stages (mature green, ripe, overripe) in 108 fresh fruit samples of banana (*Musa paradisiaca*), orange (*Citrus sinensis*), and papaya (*Carica papaya*). Microorganisms were identified using biochemical methods and MALDI-TOF mass spectrometry, and physicochemical parameters were determined using standard analytical protocols.
What was found
Aerobic mesophilic bacteria (AMB) counts increased from mature green (6.74 ± 0.48 to 6.76 ± 0.42 log CFU/mL) to overripe stages (7.51 ± 0.43 to 7.96 ± 0.34 log CFU/mL). Ripening stage significantly affected microbial counts (P < 0.05) across all fruits, except Enterobacteriaceae in banana and orange, and fungal counts in orange. The predominant bacterial isolates were *Bacillus cereus* (33.7%), *Alcaligenes faecalis* (17.3%), *Pseudomonas putida* (15.2%), *Morganella morganii* (11.1%), *Staphylococcus sciuri* (6.6%), and *Staphylococcus epidermidis* (4.9%). Fungi were dominated by *Candida* spp. (33.9%), *Saccharomyces* spp. (18.1%), and *Aspergillus* spp. (16.3%). Physicochemical markers varied significantly: lowest pH was 3.53 in mature green oranges, highest ascorbic acid was 69.87 mg/100g in overripe papaya, and highest total sugar (17.87%) and reducing sugar (14.20%) were recorded in overripe bananas.
Why it matters
The study profiles specific spoilage organisms and potential human foodborne pathogens that proliferate during fruit ripening, providing baseline data for postharvest handling, storage, and food safety interventions.
Limits
The abstract does not state the geographical origin, growing conditions, or storage environment of the samples. Microbial identification relied on culture-based methods and MALDI-TOF rather than culture-independent metagenomic sequencing, potentially missing unculturable taxa. Human health outcomes or ingestion risks were not directly tested.
Cited by
- context As fruit ripens and becomes overripe, its sugar content increases while its vitamin C content decreases.