Microbial ecology of the mango phylloplane.
Jager E. S. de, Wehner F. C., Korsten L.
Author Affiliation: Department of Microbiology and Plant Pathology, University of Pretoria, Pretoria 0002, South Africa.
Microbial Ecology 42 : 201-207
Abstract : Bacteria, filamentous fungi and yeasts were enumerated on the mango phylloplane by indirect leaf impression and washing and dilution plating. The phylloplane microbial community was qualitatively and quantitatively related to leaf age, position in the tree canopy, seasonality and chemical spraying. Filamentous fungi and yeasts were more abundant during winter and spring, whereas bacterial population densities increased during autumn. Community density and diversity increased progressively with leaf age. The western tree aspect sustained the least diverse bacterial, filamentous fungal and yeast communities. Chemical sprays reduced bacterial, filamentous fungal and yeast community diversities. Gram-positive bacteria (Bacillus spp. and Coryneform spp.) exceeded gram-negative bacteria. The most common fungal genera isolated were Cladosporium and Alternaria. Yeasts prevalent in the mango phylloplane were of the genera Aureobasidium, Cryptococcus, and Sporobolomyces.