Bacteriological Evaluation of Tomatoes Purchased From Ilesha, Osun State

Abstract

This study will look at microorganisms identified in tomatoes purchased in Ilesha, Osun State. The microbial degradation of tomato fruits lowers their market value and reduces their nutritional content. Ilesha in Osun State provided a total of five (5) tomato samples. All of the samples were collected aseptically in sterile universal containers and sent to the lab for examination promptly. Each tomato sample was weighed and homogenized in 90mL sterile distilled water, then blended in a sterile blender, and 1 mL of the homogenate was constituted in 9 mL sterile peptone water. The bacteria isolates were identified using Gram staining and other biochemical testing. The biochemical tests used to characterize the microorganisms further. The total viable count in colony forming units per milliliter (CFU/mL) is the outcome of the total viable counts. Sample T1 has the highest overall viable plate count of 12.0×10-4, followed by sample T4, which has 5.7×10-4, sample T3, which has 3.6×10-4, sample T5, which has 2.5×10-4, and sample T2, which has 2.4×10-4. Except for T2a, T2b, and T5 which are Gram positive cocci, all bacterial isolates with sample codes T1, T3, and T4 are rod-shaped and gram negative. Erwinia sp, Lactobacillus sp, Micrococcus sp, Proteus sp, Pseudomonas sp, Pseudomonas sp, and Staphylococcus sp are among the microbes that could be identified. This study discovered that tomato fruits are connected with various opportunistic pathogenic bacteria, posing a considerable risk to consumers, particularly the illiterate majority, who are unaware of the risks and can eat tomato fruits without washing them.