AUTHOR=El-araby Abir , Azzouzi Amal , Ayam Iman Msegued , Samouh Khaoula Filali , Errachidi Faouzi 

TITLE=Survey on technical management of strawberries in Morocco and evaluation of their post-harvest microbial load

JOURNAL=Frontiers in Microbiology

VOLUME=13

YEAR=2023

URL=https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/microbiology/articles/10.3389/fmicb.2022.1115340

DOI=10.3389/fmicb.2022.1115340

ISSN=1664-302X

ABSTRACT=<p>The climatic conditions of the growing regions influence the fruit’s microbiological quality and their tolerance to post-harvest pathogens. The present work aims to identify the prevalence of bacterial and fungal strains of strawberries (Fragaria <bold>×</bold> ananassa) in the Gharb and Loukkos regions of Morocco. Thus, to establish a correlation between the microbial load and the climatic conditions of the two targeted regions. The bacteriological analyses were studied according to the International Organization for Standardization (ISO) methodologies. Regarding the mycological study, fungal species determination was performed using identification keys. Yeast species determination was done using genus analysis, assimilation, and fermentation tests. Emberger bioclimatic quotients (Q<sub>2</sub>) were calculated for the Gharb and Loukkos regions and bioclimatic stages were determined. <italic>Salmonella</italic> spp. was not detected in the studied samples. However, <italic>Listeria monocytogenes</italic> and <italic>Escherichia coli</italic> were isolated from the Gharb samples. Sulfite-reducing clostridia spores were found in two Gharb samples versus one Loukkos sample. Coagulase-positive staphylococci were negative in all samples analyzed. Loukkos and Gharb regions were contaminated by <italic>Bacillus cereus</italic> with percentages of occurrence of 5.2 and 7.8%, respectively. The fungi found in strawberries from both regions were <italic>Aspergillus niger</italic>, <italic>Botrytis cinerea</italic>, <italic>Fusarium</italic> spp., <italic>Penicillium</italic> spp., <italic>Rhizopus</italic> spp., and <italic>Alternaria alternata</italic> with a significant predominance in the Loukkos samples. Indeed, a marked presence is noted for <italic>Candida sake</italic> and <italic>Rhodotorula glutinis</italic> in strawberries from Loukkos. Gharb is located on the semi-arid stage, while Loukkos is located on the sub-humid stage. Climatic conditions have a strong influence on plant microbial load, which explains the prevalence of bacteria in strawberries from Gharb and the prevalence of fungi in strawberries from Loukkos.</p>