In July 2005, the Centre of Ecology and Hydrology, Oxford (CEH-Oxford) hosted an International Symposium on the Microbiology of Aerial Plant Surfaces at St Catherine's College, Oxford. The presentations, discussions and the following chapters developed from this meeting.

This book focuses on the ecology of the microbiology of the surfaces of above-ground, aerial portion of vascular plants (including stem, leaves, fruits and flowers), collectively known as the phylloplane. It is divided into 6 sections, highlighting both the value of this highly diverse habitat to research in microbiology and the importance of this research to plant health and ecosystem functions. Section I concerns the biodiversity and population genetics of phyllosphere communities. Section II concerns the spatial distribution and biofilm structures of microbes on the phylloplane. Section III concerns biological control and pathogenicity. Section IV describes gene expression and phyllosphere genomics. Section V focuses on leaf colonization and dispersal. Section VI deals with aerobiology and plant surface microbiology.

Includes bibliographical references and index.

Phyllosphere microbiology : a perspective / S. Lindow -- Microbial diversity in the phyllosphere and rhizosphere of field grown crop plants : microbial specialisation at the plant surface / T.M. Timms-Wilson, K. Smalla, T.I. Goodall, A. Houlden, V. Gallego and M.J. Bailey -- Diversity, scale and variation of endophytic fungi in leaves of tropical plants / P. Bayman -- Microorganisms in the phyllosphere of temperate forest ecosystems in a changing environment / T. Müller, K. Strobel, and A. Ulrich -- Bacterial biofilm formation, adaptation and fitness / S. Rice and S. Kjelleberg -- Bacterial assemblages on plant surfaces / J.-M. Monier -- The role of plant genetics in determining above-and below-ground microbial communities / J.A. Schweitzer, J.K. Bailey, R.K. Bangert, S.C. Hart and T.G. Whitham -- A survey of A-L biofilm formation and cellulose expression amongst soil and plant-associated Pseudomonas isolates / A.J. Spiers, D.L. Arnold, C.D. Moon and T.M. Timms-Wilson -- Biological control of plant diseases by phyllosphere applied biological control agents / B.J. Jacobsen -- Ecophysiology of biocontrol agents for improved competence in the phyllosphere / N. Magan -- Compost teas : alternative approaches to the biological control of plant diseases / W.F. Mahaffee and S.J. Scheuerell -- Molecular interactions at the leaf surface : Xanthomonas and its host / M. Wilson, W. Moss, Y. Zhang and J. Jones -- Erwiniae : genomics and the secret life of a plant pathogen / I.K. Toth, L. Moleleki, L. Pritchard, H. Liu, S. Humphris, L. Hyman, G.W. Axelsen, M.B. Brurberg, M. Ravensdale, E. Gilroy and P.R.J. Birch -- Host-pathogen interactions of relevance to the phyllosphere / G.W. Sundin -- Effects of endophytes on colonisation by leaf surface microbiota / R.W.S. Weber and H. Anke -- Plant control of phyllosphere diversity : genotype interactions with ultraviolet-B radiation / A.E. Stapleton and S.J. Simmons -- Population growth and the landscape ecology of microbes on leaves / J.H. Andrews -- What DNA microarrays can tell us about bacterial diversity : a new light on an old question / G.L. Andersen, Y.M. Piceno, T.Z. DeSantis and E.L. Brodie -- Human pathogens and the health threat of the phyllosphere / M.T. Brandl -- Post-harvest spoilage of wheat grains : maldour formation and the infection process / P.T.N. Spencer-Phillips, A. Wallington, W. Köckenberger, H.E. Gunson and N.M. Ratcliffe -- Atmospheric composition and the phyllosphere : the role of foliar surfaces in regulating biogeochemical cycles / D. Fowler, J.N. Cape, J. Muller, M. Coyle, M.A. Sutton, R. Smith and C. Jeffree.

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Title from PDF title page (viewed August 19, 2013).