Positional variation in phylloplane microbial populations within an apple tree canopy

摘要: Variation in density of epiphytic yeasts, filamentous fungi, and bacteria on apple leaves collected from eight trees at nine dates for two seasons was determined with respect to three positional factors: height, compass direction the center tree, lateral proximity canopy periphery. Univariate analyses variance were performed each microbial classes date according a model that excluded tree effect but accounted factors interactions. The assumption no explored by residual analysis examination seasonal pattern densities tree. No persuasive evidence obtained invalidate this assumption. For fungi height position most significant withp<0.05 yeasts several periods. appeared be equal importance. Trends less clear bacteria, all some two-way interactions seemed frequently level 0.10, almost sampling certain 0.25. Inspection partial correlation coefficients indicated apparent linear association between pairs classes. Implications these results experimental design ecology phylloplane community are discussed.