Original paper

Phyllosphere of Eucalyptus viminalis II: Distribution of endophytes

Bertoni, María D.; Cabral, Daniel

Image of first page of:

Nova Hedwigia Band 46 Heft 3-4 (1988), p. 491 - 502

33 references

published: Jun 13, 1988

DOI: 10.1127/nova.hedwigia/46/1988/491

BibTeX file

ArtNo. ESP050004603012, Price: 29.00 €

Download preview PDF Buy as PDF

Abstract

The endophytic fungal community of the phyllosphere of E. viminalis was studied by culture methods after leaf surface sterilization. In order to draw a leaf map of the distribution of the endophytes, eighteen leaves (blade and petiole) with the neighbouring twigs, were cut into squares of 3 mm side. The more frequent species recorded were Coniothyrium sp., Coccomyces martiniae, and Mycosphaerella sp., and less frequent were Macrophomasmilacina, Nigrospora sp., Sterile Mycelium GRN, etc. They may be grouped in two classes: those present in all the leaf tissues and those confined to the blade. The highest level of infection was found in the blade and the basal half of the leaf, followed by the midrib and petiole, and then the upper half of the leaf. The distribution as shown by the leaf map, suggests that the infections have probably developed from deposited propagules rather than through systemic infection. The structure of the endophytic community of leaves of E. viminalis is the result of the existence, in each leaf, of independent microcommunities with a particular structure. These microcommunities were grouped into 4 basic models, taking into account the species involved and their frequency. These models are independent of tree genotype, and may be associated with the idea of unit-community proposed by Swift.

Keywords

Eucalyptus viminalis • endophytes