The integrated effect of gamma irradiation and plant edible coating on the microbial properties of Fringebarbel sturgeon fillet (Acipenser nudiventris) during refrigerated storage

Document Type : Original Article

Authors

1 Nuclear Agriculture Research School, Nuclear Science and Technology Research Institute, Karaj, Iran.

2 Department of Fisheries, Faculty of Natural Resources, University of Tehran, Karaj, Iran.

Abstract

In the present research, the effect of simultaneous use of irradiation, with edible coating of basil seed gum and extract of marjoram on microbial properties of Fringebarbell sturgeon fillet was studied. Treatments were 2% edible coating of basil seed gum, 2 and 4% marjoram extract and 3 and 4 kGy gamma rays. Treated samples were stored at 4ºC and evaluated periodically for microbial evaluation. The result showed that total viable counts (TVC) and psychrotrophic counts in treatments containing 3 and 4 kGy radiation (treatment 4 and 6) had a lower growth rate than other treatments. Pseudomonadaceae bacterial growth rate was also low. Bacterial studies of Enterobacteriaceae indicated that all fillets treated with gamma rays and the extract had no colonies of this type of bacteria until the 10th day of storage (P<0.05) and in treatment 4, growth rate was lower than the other treatments. In addition to gamma rays, marjoram extract was effective in reducing the microbial load of the fillets, as in the irradiated treatments containing the highest amount of extract (4%), the growth of all bacteria was slower than the other treatments. However, treatments 4 and 6 had better microbial quality. Thus, considering the results of the research, using 3 kGy dose with 4% of extract of marjoram can be effective in increasing the shelf life of the fish fillet.

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