Estimation of biotic potential in potatoes and apples

The study focuses on the determination of biotic potential in potatoes and apples using Tetrahymena pyriformis infusoria. Rapid control methods are becoming increasingly important due to the need to rapidly assess quality and safety parameters. Tetrahymena pyriformis is a convenient test system for biotesting due to its high sensitivity to changes in the environment. The method of biotesting on infusoria allows rapid and inexpensive evaluation of the biological activity of products, their safety and general toxicity. Samples of potatoes and apples, chopped to homogeneous state and introduced into nutrient medium were used in the study. After incubation for 48 h, the number of microorganisms was counted to calculate the biotic potential value. The results showed that the highest growth of microorganisms was observed in all samples with 1 g product content. The least growth was recorded at 4 g content for apple samples and 0.5 g for potato samples. This is linked to the chemical composition of the products: potatoes are predominantly starchy and apples consist of simple sugars, which affects the growth of the number of infusoria. The findings of the study emphasise the strong dependence of biotic potential on the chemical composition and amount of added products. Further research is recommended to form mathematical correlations with the possibility of applying these correlations to develop formulations of products with the best digestibility. The use of infusoria for biotesting allows effective control of product quality and identification of potential health risks for consumers.