Effect of individual or combined freezing and gamma radiation treatment on the inactivation and injury of Micrococcus varians cells

ABSTRACT

Exposure of M. varians cells to subzero temperature [-2° and -20°]. Caused cell inactivation which increased gradually by increasing the storing period at subzero temperature. Sterile broth and radio-sterile fish were used as a suspending freezing menestrum, the latter was protective against the damaging effect of subzero temperature. Irradiation followed by freezing and storing at subzero temperatures induced a synergistic effect in the inactivation of M. varians cells. While, preliminary freezing and storing at subzero temperatures followed by irradiation revealed no synergism in cell deactivation. Irradiation M. varians cells were more sensitive to subsequent fast freezing than