Specific Environmental Temperature and Relative Humidity Conditions and Grafting Affect the Persistence and Dissemination of Salmonella enterica subsp. enterica Serotype Typhimurium in Tomato Plant Tissues

Tomatoes are one of the most widely produced vegetables around the world; however, fresh tomatoes have been connected to multiple wide-scale salmonellosis outbreaks over the past decades. Salmonella is commonly found in the environment and can persist in hostile conditions for several weeks before being internalized into plant tissues, where it is protected from conventional sanitation methods. In addition to biotic factors (host, inoculum size, and phytobiome), abiotic factors (environmental conditions) may affect the persistence of Salmonella in crop production. This study demonstrates that specific environmental conditions, the inoculation method, and the inoculum density affect the persistence and dissemination of JSG626 in tomato plant tissues. Our findings enhance the understanding of interactions between Salmonella enterica and fresh produce and may lead to the development of novel management practices on farms.