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Microbial Ecology of the Mango Phylloplane
E.S. Jager1, F.C. Wehner, L. Korsten
1Department of Microbiology and Plant Pathology, University of Pretoria, Pretoria 0002, Republic of South Africa.
Microbial Ecology
|May 25, 2002
Summary
Mango leaf microbial communities, including bacteria, fungi, and yeasts, vary with leaf age and season. Chemical spraying significantly reduces microbial diversity on mango leaves.
Area of Science:
- Microbiology
- Plant Pathology
- Ecology
Background:
- The mango phylloplane harbors a diverse microbial community.
- Understanding phylloplane microbial ecology is crucial for plant health and disease management.
Purpose of the Study:
- To enumerate and characterize bacteria, filamentous fungi, and yeasts on the mango phylloplane.
- To investigate the relationship between phylloplane microbial communities and environmental factors such as leaf age, canopy position, season, and chemical spraying.
Main Methods:
- Indirect leaf impression technique.
- Washing and dilution plating methods for microbial enumeration.
- Qualitative and quantitative analysis of microbial communities.
Main Results:
- Microbial community composition and density varied with leaf age, seasonality, and canopy position.
- Bacterial populations peaked in autumn, while fungi and yeasts were more abundant in winter and spring.
- Community density and diversity increased with leaf age.
- Western tree aspects showed less diverse microbial communities.
- Chemical sprays significantly reduced microbial diversity.
Conclusions:
- Leaf age, season, canopy position, and chemical treatments are significant factors shaping the mango phylloplane microbial community.
- Gram-positive bacteria (Bacillus spp., coryneform spp.) were dominant over gram-negative bacteria.
- Cladosporium and Alternaria were the most common fungal genera, and Aureobasidium, Cryptococcus, and Sporobolomyces were prevalent yeast genera.