Ice Nucleation-Active Bacteria on Chinese Cabbage in Northern China: Population Dynamics and Characteristics and Their Possible Role in Storage Decay

Abstract

Ice nucleation-active (INA) bacteria active at -5 C were detected on leaves of Chinese cabbage in the field and in storage facilities in the Beijing Municipality. Populations of INA bacteria in the field and those on plants in storage were as high as 2.45×10 6 and 3.12×10 6 cfu/cm 2 of leaf, respectively. About 93% of the INA bacteria isolated were identified as Pseudomonas viridiflara. Other species of INA bacteria isolated from Chinese cabbage included P. fluorescens and nonfluorescent pseudomonads (...)