DIVERSITY OF PHYLLOPLANE MYCOFLORA OF SOME MEDICINAL PLANTS OF MAHE, U. T. OF PUDUCHERRY.

Leaves constitute the major part of exposed plant surface. They are open to infestation or sporotropic colonization by air dispersed or splash dispersed mycoflora. The leaves provide unique environment to their surface occupants. The topography of the leaf surface, the micro-climate around the leaves and the typical leaf exudate influence the growth and development of varieties of leaf surface micro-organisms and in turn determine the vitality of the plant concerned. In this context survey on the occurrence of phylloplane fungi on leaf surfaces of five important medicinal plants viz; Azadirachta indica, Centella asiatica, Justicia adhatoda, Ocimum tenuiflorum and Plectranthus amboinicus in Mahe, U. T. of Puducherry was carried out. The survey showed altogether 18 fungal species under 13 genera of which Aspergillus had the highest mean incidence followed by Cercospora, Cladosporium, Curvularia and Diplococcium.