Comparing Source of Agricultural Contact Water and the Presence of Fecal Indicator Organisms on the Surface of 'Juliet' Grape Tomatoes

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dc.contributor.advisorWalsh, Christopher Sen_US
dc.contributor.authorPahl, Donna Marieen_US
dc.contributor.departmentPlant Science and Landscape Architecture (PSLA)en_US
dc.contributor.publisherDigital Repository at the University of Marylanden_US
dc.contributor.publisherUniversity of Maryland (College Park, Md.)en_US
dc.date.accessioned2011-02-19T07:17:23Z
dc.date.available2011-02-19T07:17:23Z
dc.date.issued2010en_US
dc.description.abstractMicrobial water quality standards exist to prevent food safety outbreaks due to the use of agricultural water, although little is known about how the levels the fecal indicator organisms in water relate to the counts on the tomato fruit surface. This study used fecal indicator organisms commonly used in microbial water quality standards (Enterobacteriaceae, total coliforms, fecal coliforms, and <italic>E. coli</italic>) to monitor the water quality of surface ponds, a groundwater source, and the phyllosphere of treated grape tomatoes over two growing seasons. Water source and date caused a significant difference in the counts of fecal indicator organisms. Variability in bacterial counts was found in the surface water sources over the course of the season, partially explained by environmental variables such as water temperature, pH, precipitation, and air temperature. The microbial counts on the surfaces of the tomato fruit did not reflect the water treatments applied to the plants.en_US
dc.identifier.urihttp://hdl.handle.net/1903/11282
dc.subject.pqcontrolledPlant Sciencesen_US
dc.subject.pquncontrolledcoliformen_US
dc.subject.pquncontrolledE. colien_US
dc.subject.pquncontrolledEnterobacteriaceaeen_US
dc.subject.pquncontrolledGood Agricultural Practicesen_US
dc.subject.pquncontrolledpetrifilmsen_US
dc.subject.pquncontrolledSolanum lycopersicumen_US
dc.titleComparing Source of Agricultural Contact Water and the Presence of Fecal Indicator Organisms on the Surface of 'Juliet' Grape Tomatoesen_US
dc.typeThesisen_US

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