Asian Journal of Microbiology, Biotechnology & Environmental Sciences Paper

EFFECT OF PHYLLOPLANE FUNGI ON LEAF SENESCENCE OF SOME SPECIES OF MYRISTICACEAE OF THE WESTERN GHATS OF KARNATAKA, INDIA

P. RAMA BHAT AND K. M. KAVERIAPPA

Abstract

Populations of phylloplane fungi varied qualitatively and quantitatively in the five plant species of Myristicaceae viz. Gyninacranthera farquhariana, Knerna attenuata, iViyristica dactyloides, M. fatua var. magnifica and M. malabarica. The excised green leaves colonized by Trichoderma viride reduced the total chlorophyll content in Gyrnnacranthera farquhariana; Aspergillus aculeatus, Curvularia lunata and.Fusarium oxysporurn in Knema attenuata; Alternaria alternata, Aspergillus ochraceus and Trichoderrna viride in Myristica dactyloides; A. aculeatus, A. flavus, A. niger and A. ochraceus in M. fatua var. magnifica; A. flavus in M. malabarica. Whereas, in those excised leaves colonized by Curvularia lunata and Fusarium oxysporum enhanced the chlorophyll contents. In Cladosporium oxysporum colonization did not affect the chlorophyll content of the excised leaves of any of the five species of Myristicaceae.