PHYLLOSPHERIC MICROFLORA OF CUSCUTA PEDICILLATA LEDEB. AND ITS HOST TRIFOLIUM ALEXANDRINUM L.

The phyllospheric microbial communities in Cuscuta pedicelleta Ledeb. and in its host Trifolium alexandrinum L. were compared to reveal association of microbial distribution between host and parasite. In the present study, stem samples of Cuscuta pedicelleta Ledeb. and healthy leaves of its host plant i.e. Trifolium alexandrinum L. were collected from agriculture area of Lahore, Pakistan, during April 2010. Host leaf/parasite stem washing was used for the isolation of epiphytic and homogenized host leaf/ parasite stem tissue mixture for endophytic microbial population was inoculated separately on 2% MEA and LB medium for bacterial and fungal isolation respectively. Each fungal and bacterial colony was purified and identified on the basis of morphological characteristics and biochemical characteristics. The colonization of the microflora suggested that T. alexandrinum leaf tissue harboured more endophytic and epiphytic bacterial strains than C. pedicelleta. On the other hand, the parasite (C. pedicelleta) stem supported a total of 3 bacterial species as endophytes and epiphytes but different than to its host plant. No edophytic fungal flora was recorded in case C. pedicelleta and its host. Result showed that microflora exhibited high degree of host specificity but no microbial association between C. pedicelleta and T. alexandrinum.