Epiphytic bacteria, their ecology and functions

Bacteria are a major component of the diverse epiphytic microbial flora that are harbored by leaves of plants in temperate, tropical and subtropical climates. In this review, we compile the information on the phyllosphere microbiology of plant pathogenic bacteria, ice nucleation-active bacteria, and bio-film bacteria. In particular, we examine their fitness and evolution of common epiphytic bacteria such as strains of Pseudomonas fluorescens and Bacillus which function as agents of biological disease suppression and plant growth-promotion in rice (Oryza sativa, L).