The importance of phyllosphere microbial populations in nitrogen cycling in the Chaco semiarid woodland

ABRIL, A.B., TORRES, P.A., BUCHER, E.H.

JOURNAL OF TROPICAL ECOLOGY

Cambridge University Press

Lugar: Cambridge; Año: 2005 vol. 21 p. 103 - 107

0266-4674

In tropical rain forest, the interface between leaf surfaces and the atmosphere is a fundamental pathway for nutrient cycling (particulary nitrogen), to the point of being considered evenmore important thanthe soil–plant interface (Parker1994,Silver et al.1996).Most important nutrient exchanges in the phyllosphere–atmosphere interface are mediated by microbial populations. For example, some authors have considered that nitrogen fixation in the phyllosphere is the main mechanism for nitrogen gain inhumidtropical ecosystems,becauseof the substantial nutrient demand resulting from a high plant productivity and the constraint imposed by the generally low nitrogen availability in soil (Ruinen 1974, Salati et al. 1982, Silver et al. 1996).et al.1996).Most important nutrient exchanges in the phyllosphere–atmosphere interface are mediated by microbial populations. For example, some authors have considered that nitrogen fixation in the phyllosphere is the main mechanism for nitrogen gain inhumidtropical ecosystems,becauseof the substantial nutrient demand resulting from a high plant productivity and the constraint imposed by the generally low nitrogen availability in soil (Ruinen 1974, Salati et al. 1982, Silver et al. 1996).et al. 1982, Silver et al. 1996).et al. 1996).