Abstract: Bacterial flora in Scophthalmus maximus stored at 0, 3, 7 ℃ and 10 ℃ were qualitatively and quantitatively investigated. The results showed that fresh Scophthalmus maximus had a complex bacterial flora consisting of 114 strains. Of there strains, 68.4% were gram-negative bacteria and 21.1% gram-positive bacteria. The predominant bacterial flora was composed of Enterobacteria (14.9%), Pasteurella pneumotropica (13.2%), Vibrio mimicus (12.3%), Pseudomonas spp. (10.5%) and Shewanella putrefacien (8.8%). The composition of bacteria flora gradually became simple during chilled storage and the growth of Pseudomonas spp. and Shewanella putrefacien was vigorous. At the end of good quality period at 0, 3, 7 ℃ and 10 ℃, Shewanella putrefacien represented 42.2%, 39.0%, 57.1% and 56.3% (averagely 50.2%), and Pseudomonas spp. 28.0%, 23.7%, 25.5% and 31.0% (averagely 27.2%). At the end of shelf life at 0, 3, 7 ℃ and 10 ℃, Shewanella putrefacien accounted for 53.9%, 50.0%, 57.4% and 47.6% (averagely 52.3%), and Pseudomonas spp. 25.5%, 25.0%, 41.0% and 15.9% (averagely 26.5%), respectively. Therefore, it could be concluded that Shewanella putrefacien was the most predominant spoilage bacteria during storage at 0－10 ℃, followed by Pseudomonas spp..

Key words: Scophthalmus maximus, chilled storage, bacterial flora change, predominant spoilage bacteria, Shewanella putrefaciens