Ecological studies on endophytic and epiphytic phyllosphere fungi of trees in Japan

Abstract

The phyllosphere is the living leaf as a whole and is colonized by endophytic and epiphytic fungi. In this paper I summarize ecological studies on endophytic and epiphytic phyllosphere fungi from live leaves of trees in Japan. Studies to date have detected endophytes and epiphytes on leaves of at least 182 tree species in 54 plant families according to 41 papers published since 1990. These studies have recorded 24 endophytic and 22 epiphytic genera of fungi. Major trees used in the ecological studies of phyllosphere fungi include pines, beech and dogwood. Topics include （i） the infection and colonization of leaves, （ii） seasonal and leaf age-dependent patterns of temporal changes, （iii） spatial distribution at various levels, and （iv） interaction with pathogens and herbivores and effects of simulated acid rain. Future research directions in Japan are suggested and discussed with reference to international literature on the ecology of phyllosphere fungi.