Leaf
surfaces of plants growing in their natural environments are colonized
by epiphyllic microorganisms like bacteria, yeasts and filamentous fungi.
This leads to various interactions between epiphyllic microorganisms
and leaf surfaces (Schulze et al. 2005). Epiphyllic microorganisms can alter physicochemical
properties of leaf surfaces by increasing wettability of the hydrophobic,
water-repellent leaf surfaces and they can increase cuticular permeability
(Schreiber et al. 2005). This
will improve living conditions of the leaf surface as a habitat for
epiphyllic microorganisms, since availability of water and nutrients
will be increased (Krimm et al. 2005).
Leaf
surface of Juglans regia colonized by epiphyllic microorganisms.
