NOVEL EPIPHYTIC CYANOBACTERIAL SPECIES FROM THE GENUS BRASILONEMA CAUSING DAMAGE TO EUCALYPTUS LEAVES

A cyanobacterial mat colonizing the leaves of Eucalyptus grandis was determined to be responsible for serious damage affecting the growth and development of whole plants under the clonal hybrid nursery conditions. The dominant cyanobacterial species was isolated in BG-11 medium lacking a source of c...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Journal of phycology 2008-10, Vol.44 (5), p.1322-1334
Main Authors: Aguiar, Rosane, Fiore, Marli Fatima, Franco, Maione Wittig, Ventrella, Marília Contin, Lorenzi, Adriana Sturion, Vanetti, Cláudia A, Alfenas, Acelino Couto
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Brasilonema
Cyanobacteria
Eucalyptus
Eucalyptus grandis
leaf anatomy
novel species
ultrastructure
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Summary:A cyanobacterial mat colonizing the leaves of Eucalyptus grandis was determined to be responsible for serious damage affecting the growth and development of whole plants under the clonal hybrid nursery conditions. The dominant cyanobacterial species was isolated in BG-11 medium lacking a source of combined nitrogen and identified by cell morphology characters and molecular phylogenetic analysis (16S rRNA gene and cpcBA-IGS sequences). The isolated strain represents a novel species of the genus Brasilonema and is designated Brasilonema octagenarum strain UFV-E1. Thin sections of E. grandis leaves analyzed by light and electron microscopy showed that the B. octagenarum UFV-E1 filaments penetrate into the leaf mesophyll. The depth of infection and the mechanism by which the cyanobacterium invades leaf tissue were not determined. A major consequence of colonization by this cyanobacterium is a reduction in photosynthesis in the host since the cyanobacterial mats decrease the amount of light incident on leaf surfaces. Moreover, the cyanobacteria also interfere with stomatal gas exchange, decreasing CO₂ assimilation. To our knowledge, this is the first report of an epiphytic cyanobacterial species causing damage to E. grandis leaves.
ISSN:0022-3646
1529-8817
DOI:10.1111/j.1529-8817.2008.00584.x