2.5. Statistical analysis
The study was repeated twice, and for each replication three samples
for each treatment were analyzed at each sampling time. The pH and
microbiological data (log CFU/cm2) were analyzed using the Mixed
Procedure of SAS® version 9.1 (SAS Institute, Cary, NC). For each analysis
day, independent variables included immersion treatments, immersion
time, and microwave treatment (without or with 30 s prior microwave
heating) and interactions of immersion treatments×immersion time,
immersion treatments×microwave treatment, and immersion treatments×immersion
time×microwave treatment. Means and standard
deviations for microbiological data were calculated, and the mean
differenceswere separatedwith the least significant difference procedure
at the significance level of α=0.05.