Abstract: The surfaces of aerial plant provide a habitat for epiphitic microorganisms many of which are capable of influencing the growth of pathogens. In this study, fluctuation of bacterial population occurring in different growth stages of soybean leaves (Glycine max L Merrill) was examined using the dilution plate method. Three culture media were applied; invariably, the numbers of bacteria increased with increasing plant age. The total number of bacteria living on the detached leaves were ten times higher than leaves surfaces of soybean Asgrow 3127 (Group III). One hundred and seventy-five heterotrophic bacteria were obtained from both the phyllosphere and litter of the plant. Of these, fifty-one microorganisms (29%) were classified as members of the genus Bacillus; the remainder were mainly members of the irregular, nonsporing, Gram positive rods (coryneform bacteria). Approximately 52% of the total coryneform bacteria isolated was found to belong to the following two clusters: Arthrobacter and Corynebacterium. There were few Pseudomonas strains and 75% of the total isolated bacteria were able to grow in N-poor culture medium.

Abstract: Survey on the occurrence of phyllosphere and phylloplane fungi on leaves surface of 15 different kinds of fresh herbs (three samples of each kind) belonging to three plant families (five kinds belonging to each of Labiatae, Solanaceae and Umbelliferae) showed that all samples were colonised by a wide range of fungi. Seventy seven species and four varieties belonging to 37 genera of fungi were isolated and identified from all the samples grown on glucose Czapek agar (GCA) and dichloran chloramphenicol peptone agar (DCPA} media at 28 ± 2'C. Alternaria, Aspergillus and Cladosporium were the most common genera of fungi isolated from hosts of the three families. Alternaria alternata, Aspergillus tlavus, A. fumigatus, A. niger and Cladosporium cladosporioides were the most prevalent species. The numbers of genera and species of phyllosphere fungi were higher than those of phylloplane fungi isolated. The total fungal counts estimated on DCPA was less than those on GCA media. Numerous genera and species were recovered only on GCA medium. Dematiaceous hyphomycetes and Fusarium species constituted the major part of the mycotlora isolated on DCPA medium.

Abstract: ▪ Abstract Microbial population dynamics on leaves in time and space are a function of immigration, emigration, growth, and death. Insight into the relative significance of each population process to the generation of specific dynamics for individual microorganisms is necessary to understanding the ecology and life history strategy of the microorganism and to developing effective control strategies. Additionally, information on the significance of within-leaf versus extra-leaf processes to the generation of phyllosphere dynamics is important to determining the range of spatial scales over which a population should be studied. Unfortunately, such information is difficult to obtain due to the lack of effective methodologies for distinguishing these processes within phyllosphere populations. Future research efforts should focus on the quantification of immigration, emigration, growth, and death relative to the population dynamics of phyllosphere microorganisms.