Storage-associated Variation in Microbial Counts of Dehydrated Elephant Apple (Dillenia indica L.) Powder at Mature- green and Ripe Stages

Abstract

Microbial counts were evaluated in dehydrated elephant apple (Dillenia indica L.) powder prepared from mature-green and ripe fruits and stored under ambient conditions. Fruits obtained in Biswanath district, Assam, India, were washed, sliced, mechanically dried for 28 h, powdered, and packed in polythene bags. Culture-based observations were recorded at 0, 30, 60, 90, 120, and 150 days. The reported counts increased from values recorded as zero at day 0 to 0.3 × 10⁶ and 0.4 × 10⁶ CFU/g at day 30 for mature-green and ripe powder, respectively. By day 150, counts reached 8.3 × 10⁶ CFU/g in mature-green powder and 12.0 × 10⁶ CFU/g in ripe powder. Ripe-stage powder had higher recorded counts at all subsequent sampling points. These observations indicate a storage-associated increase in recoverable microbial colonies under the conditions examined. Interpretation is limited by the absence of organism identification, separate medium-specific results, primary plate counts, quantitative moisture and water-activity measurements, and documented storage temperature and humidity. The observations do not independently establish the causes of the differences, product safety, or a validated shelf-life threshold.