Enhanced microbial reductions on sprouts from treated seeds
by more than 5 log units were found when carvacrol concentrations
between 900 and 1500 ppm combined with 250–300 MPa
were applied to seeds, results that suggest a higher inhibitory action
of the combination of both treatments than that of the hurdles
applied separately, as described below for the hypochlorite. The
overall results of this study also indicate that the microbial inactivation
kept throughout sprouting process suggesting that the survivors
microorganisms may have been sufficiently injured by the
pressure and chemical exposures to prevent their replication during
sprouting. The microbial inactivation could be related with permeabilisation
of the outer membrane of microorganisms by
modifications in its permeability and ion exchange induced by
the HP (McClements, Patterson, & Linton, 2001).