Microbial Ecology Of Leaves

The leaf surface or phyllosphere is a major habitat for microorganisms. Microbes on or within leaves play important roles in plant ecology, and these microbes can be manipulated to enhance plant growth or reduce plant disease. This book presents a number of critical reviews by internationally recognized experts on the microbial ecology of leaves. Topics include methods of assessment of microbial populations on leaf surfaces, leaves as reservoirs of ice nucleation phenomenon, and leaves as microbial habitats in both aquatic and terrestrial environments. The book will be of interest to students and scientists in numerous disciplines, including botany, aerobiology, meteorology, ecology, agriculture, and microbiology.

All aerial plant surfaces, including leaves, stems and flowers are inhabited by diverse assemblages of microorganisms, including filamentous fungi, yeasts, bacteria, and bacteriophages. These organisms have profound effects on plant health and thus impact on ecosystem and agricultural functions. This book is based on proceedings from the 8th International Symposium on the mircobiology of aerial plant surfaces, held in Oxford 2005. This is a five yearly conference which brings together international scientists and provides a unique opportunity to discuss developments in this field.

Twenty-two papers from the August 2000 conference in Berkeley discuss the biology and ecology of microorganisms associated with the aerial surface of plants. Covering the physical and chemical environment of plant surfaces, the interactions between epiphytes and their hosts, interactions between microbes, agricultural practices and food quality, and models of interactions and movement of microbes, the volume represents the work of plant pathologists, horticulturalists, ecologists, microbiologists, and other scientists from North America, Europe, Australia, Iran, and the Philippines. Annotation copyrighted by Book News Inc., Portland, OR.

Microbiology of Aerial Plant Surfaces is composed of papers presented at a meeting held at the University of Leeds in September, 1975. The content covers progress in work on the aerial surfaces of plants during the years 1970-1975. Organized into 31 chapters, the book begins with the aspects of the structure and development of the aerial surfaces of higher plants. It then elucidates some effects of fungicides and other agrochemicals on the microbiology of the aerial surfaces of plants; effects of air pollution on the structure and function of plant-surface microbial ecosystems; and the aerial microclimate around plant surfaces. Some other topics discussed include the taxonomy of bacteria on the aerial parts of plants; fungi on the aerial surfaces of higher plants; and distribution of yeasts and yeast-like organisms on aerial surfaces of developing apples and grapes. Furthermore, the book explains the saprophytes on plant surfaces in maritime areas and antagonism between fungal saprophytes and pathogens on aerial plant surfaces.

For a long time microbial ecology has been developed as a distinct field with in Ecology. In spite of the important role of microorganisms in the environ ment, this group of 'invisible' organisms remained unaccessable to other ecologists. Detection and identification of microorganisms remain largely dependent on isolation techniques and characterisation of pure cultures. We now realise that only a minor fraction of the microbial community can be cultivated. As a result of the introduction of molecular methods, microbes can now be detected and identified at the DNA/RNA level in their natural environment. This has opened a new field in ecology: Molecular Microbial Ecology. In the present manual we aim to introduce the microbial ecologist to a selected number of current molecular techniques that are relevant in micro bial ecology. The first edition of the manual contains 33 chapters and an equal number of additional chapters will be added this year. Since the field of molecular ecology is in a continuous progress, we aim to update and extend the Manual regularly and will invite anyone to deposit their new protocols in full detail in the next edition of this Manual.