Data from: Biological Soil Amendments Can Support Survival of Pathogenic and Non-Pathogenic Escherichia coli in Soils and Sporadic Transfer to Romaine Lettuce

<p>Biological soil amendments are an essential input in organic lettuce production. However, these BSAs can introduce or transfer pathogens like <em>Escherichia coli</em> O157:H7 to lettuce in pre-harvest environments. This study evaluated the effect of BSAs on survival of non-pathogenic and pathogenic <em>E. coli</em> in soils and transfer to lettuce. Romaine lettuce was grown with controlled light, temperature, and relative humidity. Soil was amended (side-dressed) with either heat treated poultry pellets (HTPP), HTPP with corn steep liquor (CSL), seabird guano (SBG), SBG with CSL, or left unamended (UA). Soils were co-inoculated with non-pathogenic, rifampicin-resistant <em>E. coli</em> TVS 353 and two chloramphenicol-resistant <em>E. coli</em> O157:H7 isolates (100 mL of 10⁶ CFU/mL). <em>E. coli</em> survival over 28 days was evaluated. On day 28, Romaine lettuce was harvested, and presence of <em>E. coli</em> was determined.</p>

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