Post-harvest Sugarcane Deterioration:Leuconostocand Its Effect

Microorganisms affecting Post-Harvest Sucrose Losses in Sugarcane

“…These bacteria posses' characteristic exponential growths curve which later on shows slight declination. The maximum count was reported to be 10 7 -10 -8 cells/ml which is achieved within 3 to 4 days after cane was harvested (Solomon, 2009;Misra et al, 2016). The invasion of microorganisms does not end up at harvesting time; however, it may occur even during cane processing in sugar mills.…”

Impact of chemical treatments on Leuconostoc bacteria from harvested stored cane/stale cane

“…Production of dextran in cane juice causes many troubles during processing of sugar [ 56 ] such as increase in viscosity, crystal shape alteration, etc. [ 3 ]. It has been found out that a loss of 0.0025 pounds of raw sugar takes place from one ppm unit of dextran [ 57 ].…”

“…1600 crores has to be faced by sugar mills due to supply of sucrose deteriorated canes in mills [ 2 ]. Various causes are responsible for post-harvest sugarcane deterioration out of which storage conditions and time lag between harvesting and crushing (staling) is mainly accountable for microbiological sucrose losses [ 3 ]. Bio-deterioration due to microbial invasion and proliferation in harvested canes leads to loss of 62 % [ 1 ].…”

“…Bio-deterioration due to microbial invasion and proliferation in harvested canes leads to loss of 62 % [ 1 ]. As per general practice, fresh harvested canes are allowed to left in open fields in piles or in transport vehicles for a long duration of time which paves way for ample invasion, growth and proliferation of micro-organisms that causes loss in weight and sucrose content [ 3 , 4 ]. Such a condition also occurs when canes are stored in cane centers or in mill yards [ 5 ].…”

“…Of all the micro-organisms invading in harvested sugarcane stalk, the most crucial and devastating one is Leuconostoc bacterium belonging to lactic acid bacteria group [ 7 , 3 ]. Leuconostoc is a soil borne bacterium and expresses freely on sugarcane tissue, syrups of lower brix and cane juice [ 6 ].…”