Mercury affects the phylloplane fungal community of blueberry leaves to a lesser extent than plant age

Abstract

Mercury (Hg) is a toxic heavy metal pollutant that is globally distributed due to atmospheric deposition to non-point source locations. Leaf surfaces directly sequester atmospheric Hg. Little is known of how phylloplane (leaf surface) fungi are influenced by Hg pollution. Through culture-based methodology, this study analysed fungal phylloplane community identity following a single-dose response to HgCl2 concentrations between 0 and 20 times ambient levels for New Jersey. Time passed following the Hg addition had a strong influence on the fungal phylloplane community, associated with natural successional changes. Mercury, however, did not significantly affect the phylloplane community identity. Notably, the control group was not significantly different than any of the Hg treatments. How the phylloplane functional group responds to Hg pollution has not been previously investigated and more research is needed to fully understand how Hg influences fungal phylloplane ecology.

Phylloplane Biodiversity and Activity in the City at Different Distances from the Traffic Pollution Source

“…The portion of the active microbiome under stress conditions could be highly reduced when the active microbial biomass is acting inefficiently in terms of energy requirements and substrate utilization (functional diversity) [29,30]. In this regard, the sensitivity of phylloplane activity to environmental quality in cities remains largely overlooked and mainly studied in isolation, from phylloplane taxa in cultures [31,32].…”