Distribution of phyllosphere fungi within the canopy of giant dogwood

Abstract

Distribution of phyllosphere fungi within the canopy of giant dogwood (Swida controversa) was examined. Canopies of two dogwood trees (about 8 m height) were divided into five parts in relation to the order of shoots within the current-year shoot, the height of leaf layers, and the distance from the main trunk, and leaves were collected from the five positions. A total of 13 and 33 species were isolated from the interior and surface of leaves by surface sterilization and washing methods, respectively. Species composition of fungi was different markedly between interior and surface of an individual leaf, whereas it was similar among five canopy positions in the interior or on the surface. Of 13 frequent species regarded as phyllosphere fungi, 6 species showed no difference in frequencies among five positions within the canopy. The other 7 species showed significant preference within the current-year shoot, between the leaf layer, and/or at the distance from the trunk. The probable effect of leaf properties was detected on 2 of the 7 species, while the frequencies of the other 5 species were not related to the leaf properties but were affected by the order of shoots (leaf age), the height of leaf layer, and/or the distance from the trunk (sunlight intensity).