PHYLLOSPHERE AND PHYLLOPLANE FUNGI OF SOME HERBAL PLANTS BELONGING TO LABIATAE, SOLANACEAE AND UMBELLIFERAE IN EGYPT

Survey on the occurrence of phyllosphere and phylloplane fungi on leaves surface of 15 different kinds of fresh herbs (three samples of each kind) belonging to three plant families (five kinds belonging to each of Labiatae, Solanaceae and Umbelliferae) showed that all samples were colonised by a wide range of fungi. Seventy seven species and four varieties belonging to 37 genera of fungi were isolated and identified from all the samples grown on glucose Czapek agar (GCA) and dichloran chloramphenicol peptone agar (DCPA} media at 28 ± 2'C. Alternaria, Aspergillus and Cladosporium were the most common genera of fungi isolated from hosts of the three families. Alternaria alternata, Aspergillus tlavus, A. fumigatus, A. niger and Cladosporium cladosporioides were the most prevalent species. The numbers of genera and species of phyllosphere fungi were higher than those of phylloplane fungi isolated. The total fungal counts estimated on DCPA was less than those on GCA media. Numerous genera and species were recovered only on GCA medium. Dematiaceous hyphomycetes and Fusarium species constituted the major part of the mycotlora isolated on DCPA medium.