Effects of ultraviolet irradiation on quality and bacterial diversity of fresh-cut cabbage during storage

Abstract

The effect of ultraviolet C (UV-C) radiation on the physicochemical properties and the bacterial diversity of fresh-cut cabbage was investigated over 12 days of storage at 5 ℃. The color index (L*, a* and b*), decrease in weight, and content of soluble sugar, chlorophyll, ascorbic acid, total phenol, and malondialdehyde were measured. The structure of the bacterial community was also clarified by high-throughput sequencing analysis. After irradiation, the weight loss of fresh-cut cabbage during storage was reduced, and the content of antioxidant-related components, such as total phenols, ascorbic acid, and malondialdehyde, was increased. The results showed that the dominant phylum of bacteria in fresh-cut cabbage was Proteobacteria, and the dominant genus was Pseudomonas. A β-diversity analysis showed that the composition of the bacterial community of the irradiated and control treatments was different.