Evidence of Translocation of Endophytic Human Pathogens in Tomato (Licopersicon esculentum) Grown via Geophonics

Altered environmental conditions have resulted in increased likelihood of pathogen transmission to humans. Amongst the infectious diseases, food-borne diseases are the most serious health problems affecting public health. Vegetables and fruit vegetables (salad ingredients) are frequently identified as a potential source of infection due to its unhygienic cultivation practices. The inner tissues of fruits and vegetables are considered to be sterile. However, bacterial endophytes are known to reside in wide range of plant tissues. Hence, with the view of possible isolation of bacterial endophytic human pathogens in tomato fruit have been investigated geophonically. All the experimental plant units from sowing to seedling level were challenged with pure culture of Salmonella @ 10¹⁸/mL and were analysed for the presence of Salmonella species at 7^th day after sowing (DAS) up to fruiting stage. The study revealed presence of Salmonella species at 21^st DAS in all the plants analysed, viz., leaf, stem and fruits which indicates that the tomato as salad ingredient may act as an occulant source of enteric infection.