Abstract
The effects of ultrasound (US)-assisted plasma-activated water (PAW) washing (UP) on the growth of indigenous bacteria, quality properties, and microbiome of fresh-cut Apium graveolens (celery) were investigated. Among the tested treatments (UP, NaClO solution, US alone, and PAW alone), UP was the most effective in decontaminating fresh-cut celery and inhibiting the growth of natural bacteria in the celery during storage at 4 and 10 °C. No significant differences were observed in the firmness, color, or sensory properties between untreated and UP-treated fresh-cut celery during storage. The proportion of Proteobacteria and Actinobacteria on UP-treated fresh-cut celery decreased after storage at 4 °C for 3 days, confirming the influence of UP treatment on the celery microbiome. The UP treatment induced alterations in the microbial composition of celery. These results demonstrate the potential utility of UP treatment as a novel microbial decontamination process for the preparation of fresh-cut celery products.