Inactivation of Lactobacillus plantarum by pulsed-microwave irradiation

Suspensions of Lactobacillus plantarum cells were subjected to either conventional heating, continuous microwave (CW) or pulsed microwave (PW) irradiation at 50 degrees C for 30 min. Samples exposed to PW showed greater reductions (2 approximately 4 log) in survival counts than those treated with either conventional heating or CW irradiation. As exposure time increased, PW resulted in a remarkable increase in 260 nm-absorbing compounds that leaked into the suspending menstruum, as compared to CW or conventional heating, indicating that PW irradiated cells were the most injured. The growth of PW irradiated cells was delayed about 24h and the final acidity of the culture broth was about 60 approximately 80% that of other cells treated with conventional heating or CW irradiation