Abundance of Human Pathogenic Microorganisms in the Halophyte <i>Salicornia europaea</i> L.: Influence of the Chemical Composition of Shoots and Soils

<i>Salicornia europaea</i> L. is a halophilic plant species belonging to Chenopodiaceae, whose shoots are used as a vegetable. Since the shoots can be eaten raw, the objective of the present study was to investigate possible controls on the abundance of human pathogenic microorganisms (H...

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Main Authors: Matteo Marangi, Sonia Szymanska, Kai-Uwe Eckhardt, Felix Beske, Gerald Jandl, Katarzyna Hrynkiewicz, Julien Pétillon, Christel Baum, Peter Leinweber
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: MDPI AG 2024-11-01
Series:Agronomy
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Online Access:https://www.mdpi.com/2073-4395/14/11/2740
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author Matteo Marangi
Sonia Szymanska
Kai-Uwe Eckhardt
Felix Beske
Gerald Jandl
Katarzyna Hrynkiewicz
Julien Pétillon
Christel Baum
Peter Leinweber
author_facet Matteo Marangi
Sonia Szymanska
Kai-Uwe Eckhardt
Felix Beske
Gerald Jandl
Katarzyna Hrynkiewicz
Julien Pétillon
Christel Baum
Peter Leinweber
author_sort Matteo Marangi
collection DOAJ
description <i>Salicornia europaea</i> L. is a halophilic plant species belonging to Chenopodiaceae, whose shoots are used as a vegetable. Since the shoots can be eaten raw, the objective of the present study was to investigate possible controls on the abundance of human pathogenic microorganisms (HPMOs) in the shoots as a health risk. For this reason, the molecular-chemical composition of shoots, site-specific soil organic matter (bulk and rhizosphere), and soil pH and salinity were analyzed. Plant and soil samples were taken from two test sites with differing salinity levels in France (a young and an old marsh). We hypothesized that the chemical traits of plants and soils could suppress or promote HPMOs and, thus, serve as risk indicators for food quality. The chemical traits of shoots and bulk and rhizosphere soil were measured through thermochemolysis using gas chromatography/mass spectrometry (GC/MS). The densities of cultivable HPMOs (<i>Salmonella enterica</i>, <i>Escherichia coli</i>, and <i>Listeria monocytogenes</i>) were determined in plant shoots, rhizosphere soil, and bulk soil using selective media. Negative correlations between lignin content in the shoots and the abundance of <i>S. enterica</i>, as well as between lignin content in bulk soil and the abundance of <i>E. coli</i>, are explained by the lignin-based rigidity and its protective effect on the cell wall. In the shoot samples, the content of lipids was positively correlated with the abundance of <i>E. coli</i>. The abundance of <i>E. coli</i>, <i>S. enterica</i>, and <i>L. monocytogenes</i> in bulk soil decreased with increasing soil pH, which is linked to increased salinity. Therefore, soil salinity is proposed as a tool to decrease HPMO contamination in <i>S. europaea</i> and ensure its food safety.
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spelling doaj-art-29cb38bb5c1c43a892df0d4f8fc111792025-08-20T03:22:15ZengMDPI AGAgronomy2073-43952024-11-011411274010.3390/agronomy14112740Abundance of Human Pathogenic Microorganisms in the Halophyte <i>Salicornia europaea</i> L.: Influence of the Chemical Composition of Shoots and SoilsMatteo Marangi0Sonia Szymanska1Kai-Uwe Eckhardt2Felix Beske3Gerald Jandl4Katarzyna Hrynkiewicz5Julien Pétillon6Christel Baum7Peter Leinweber8Department of Microbiology, Nicolaus Copernicus University, 87-100 Torun, PolandDepartment of Microbiology, Nicolaus Copernicus University, 87-100 Torun, PolandSoil Science, Faculty of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences, University of Rostock, 18051 Rostock, GermanySoil Science, Faculty of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences, University of Rostock, 18051 Rostock, GermanySoil Science, Faculty of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences, University of Rostock, 18051 Rostock, GermanyDepartment of Microbiology, Nicolaus Copernicus University, 87-100 Torun, PolandUMR CNRS ECOBIO (Ecosystèmes, Biodiversité, Evolution), University of Rennes, 35042 Rennes, FranceSoil Science, Faculty of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences, University of Rostock, 18051 Rostock, GermanySoil Science, Faculty of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences, University of Rostock, 18051 Rostock, Germany<i>Salicornia europaea</i> L. is a halophilic plant species belonging to Chenopodiaceae, whose shoots are used as a vegetable. Since the shoots can be eaten raw, the objective of the present study was to investigate possible controls on the abundance of human pathogenic microorganisms (HPMOs) in the shoots as a health risk. For this reason, the molecular-chemical composition of shoots, site-specific soil organic matter (bulk and rhizosphere), and soil pH and salinity were analyzed. Plant and soil samples were taken from two test sites with differing salinity levels in France (a young and an old marsh). We hypothesized that the chemical traits of plants and soils could suppress or promote HPMOs and, thus, serve as risk indicators for food quality. The chemical traits of shoots and bulk and rhizosphere soil were measured through thermochemolysis using gas chromatography/mass spectrometry (GC/MS). The densities of cultivable HPMOs (<i>Salmonella enterica</i>, <i>Escherichia coli</i>, and <i>Listeria monocytogenes</i>) were determined in plant shoots, rhizosphere soil, and bulk soil using selective media. Negative correlations between lignin content in the shoots and the abundance of <i>S. enterica</i>, as well as between lignin content in bulk soil and the abundance of <i>E. coli</i>, are explained by the lignin-based rigidity and its protective effect on the cell wall. In the shoot samples, the content of lipids was positively correlated with the abundance of <i>E. coli</i>. The abundance of <i>E. coli</i>, <i>S. enterica</i>, and <i>L. monocytogenes</i> in bulk soil decreased with increasing soil pH, which is linked to increased salinity. Therefore, soil salinity is proposed as a tool to decrease HPMO contamination in <i>S. europaea</i> and ensure its food safety.https://www.mdpi.com/2073-4395/14/11/2740human pathogenic bacterialipidsligningas chromatography-mass spectrometry<i>Salicornia europaea</i>
spellingShingle Matteo Marangi
Sonia Szymanska
Kai-Uwe Eckhardt
Felix Beske
Gerald Jandl
Katarzyna Hrynkiewicz
Julien Pétillon
Christel Baum
Peter Leinweber
Abundance of Human Pathogenic Microorganisms in the Halophyte <i>Salicornia europaea</i> L.: Influence of the Chemical Composition of Shoots and Soils
Agronomy
human pathogenic bacteria
lipids
lignin
gas chromatography-mass spectrometry
<i>Salicornia europaea</i>
title Abundance of Human Pathogenic Microorganisms in the Halophyte <i>Salicornia europaea</i> L.: Influence of the Chemical Composition of Shoots and Soils
title_full Abundance of Human Pathogenic Microorganisms in the Halophyte <i>Salicornia europaea</i> L.: Influence of the Chemical Composition of Shoots and Soils
title_fullStr Abundance of Human Pathogenic Microorganisms in the Halophyte <i>Salicornia europaea</i> L.: Influence of the Chemical Composition of Shoots and Soils
title_full_unstemmed Abundance of Human Pathogenic Microorganisms in the Halophyte <i>Salicornia europaea</i> L.: Influence of the Chemical Composition of Shoots and Soils
title_short Abundance of Human Pathogenic Microorganisms in the Halophyte <i>Salicornia europaea</i> L.: Influence of the Chemical Composition of Shoots and Soils
title_sort abundance of human pathogenic microorganisms in the halophyte i salicornia europaea i l influence of the chemical composition of shoots and soils
topic human pathogenic bacteria
lipids
lignin
gas chromatography-mass spectrometry
<i>Salicornia europaea</i>
url https://www.mdpi.com/2073-4395/14/11/2740
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