Microbiota characterization of atmospheric cold plasma treated blueberries

Atmospheric cold plasma (ACP) holds great potential in postharvest preservation of blueberries, yet ACP-induced microbiota alterations in blueberries have rarely been researched. Herein, the effects of ACP on the microbiota community composition and diversity as well as their correlation with anthocyanin accumulation in blueberries during storage were investigated. The results showed that ACP-induced microbiota inactivation was not selective at the phylum level, but the proportion of Bacteroides and Faecalibacterium at the genus level was increased. MND1, Curtobacterium, Blastococcus and Owenweeksia can function as biomarkers of ACP-mediated sterilization. The surviving microbiota were less pathogenic and more sensitive to environmental stresses. The anthocyanin concentration of blueberries was slightly affected by the 10-min ACP treatment but decreased after the 20-min ACP treatment. Correlation analysis demonstrated that Alternaria was positively correlated with all anthocyanins, while Bacteroides, Ruminnococcus-torques-group, Lachnoclostridium and Escherichia-Shigella were negatively correlated with over four anthocyanins. This study will help evaluate the performance and risk of ACP-mediated postharvest preservation of blueberries.

Automated summary

This study investigated the effects of atmospheric cold plasma (ACP) on the microbiota community composition and diversity in blueberries, as well as its correlation with anthocyanin accumulation during storage. The results showed that ACP treatment did not selectively inactivate microbiota at the phylum level, but increased the proportion of Bacteroides and Faecalibacterium at the genus level. Certain bacterial species were identified as biomarkers of ACP-mediated sterilization. The surviving microbiota were less pathogenic and more sensitive to environmental stresses. The anthocyanin concentration in blueberries was slightly affected by a 10-min ACP treatment, but decreased after a 20-min treatment. Correlation analysis revealed specific bacteria that were positively or negatively correlated with anthocyanins. This study helps evaluate the performance and risk of ACP-mediated postharvest preservation of blueberries.