Loreta Serniene
Lithuanian University of Health Sciences, Lithuania
Title: The effect of ionized water on germination, sprouting vigour and microbial contamination of wheat sprouts
Biography
Biography: Loreta Serniene
Abstract
Interest in sprouts as a super food is growing rapidly due to their palatability and nutritional properties. The potential microbiological risks however, are challenging producers in finding innovative ways to ensure product’s safety while keeping quality high. One of the ways to achieve this is to employ ionized water in sprout production process. To determine the influence of ionized water on germination, sprouting vigour and safety of sprouts, common (bread) wheat (Triticum aestivum) seeds were chosen to soak and sprout for three days in the highest concentrations (in the safe range for human consumption) of ionized alkaline water (pH 9), acid (pH 3.8) and silvered (pH 9 + 0.011 / 0.51 mg / l silver ions). Ionized alkaline water, compared with control (tap water), increased sprouting vigour of wheat in 13.25% while the general germination improved in 57%. Ionized acidic (pH 3.8) water, compared to control (tap, distilled water) and other experimental samples (ionized alkaline, silvered water, hydrogen peroxide (8%)) effectively reduced microbial contamination of seeds: coliform bacteria was inhibited through 2.08 logarithmic units (lu) and the total bacterial count (TBC) decreased over 0.71 lu. Silvered water improved sprouting vigor in 12.5% and reduced microbial contamination, but had no statistically significant effect on improving their ability to germinate. Ionized alkaline water can be beneficial for germination, growth and irrigation of seeds, as well as ionized acidic water can play a role of an effective and safe disinfectant in sprouts production.