Effect of γ Irradiation on the Microflora of Freshwater Fish

Abstract

Studies on the generic identification of bacteria isolated from nonirradiated and irradiated (0.3 and 0.6 Mrad) yellow perch fillets during the course of microbial spoilage have been conducted. After the enumeration and tabulation of macrocolonies on petri dish cultures obtained from fillets, isolates were examined and keyed out essentially according to modified morphological and biochemical protocols of Shewan. Identification was further confirmed through reference to Bergey's Manual . Data obtained from each isolate were coded and recorded on IBM cards to facilitate identification. Total aerobic microbial plate counts obtained from nonirradiated perch before storage ranged from 10 5 to 10 6 microorganisms per gram of fish. Organisms isolated from these fillets, in order of decreasing number, consisted of Achromobacter, Alcaligenes, Pseudomonas, Brevibacterium, Micrococcus, Flavobacterium, Bacillus, Sarcina, Microbacterium, Corynebacterium , yeasts, Lactobacillus, Vibrio, Aeromonas , and a few Proteus and Escherichia cells. During storage and as spoilage progressed, the flora shifted and the pseudomonads became predominant. Irradiation of fillets to 0.3 and 0.6 Mrad reduced the aforementioned flora to the Achromobacter-Alcaligenes group, which constituted the residual flora throughout fillet storage.