Salmonella Typhimurium PERSISTANCE IN PRICKLE PEAR (Opuntia ficus-indica)

Abstract

In this study, S. enterica serovar Typhimurium (S. Typhimurium) ability of to persist in prickle pear plants (Opuntia ficus-indica) was evaluated persistence in the soil, plant response to bacterial contamination, as well as comparison of the response among several cladodes (mother cladodes, secondary cladodes in planta, and cut cladodes). was evaluated S. Typhimurium persisted in soil and in plant tissue for up to 14 d. Its persistence in the cladode on the type and physiological condition of the cladode. In secondary in plant cladodes the bacterium persisted for 9 d, while in the mother in plant cladodes and cut secondary cladodes persisted for 14 d, with differences (P ≤ 0.05) in the bacterial population between cladode types and physiological conditions. In the tissue, S. Typhimurium induced dark lesions at the infiltration site in all cladodes, lesions were more intense in plant secondary cladodes at 48 h and showed symptoms of tissue dehydration and detachment. In the absence of the bacteria there were no changes in the tissue. The observed symptoms indicate that S. Typhimurium is capable of activating signals and induce a defense response in prickle pear plants.