Surface Sterilization and the Active Mycoflora of Leaves of a Seagrass

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Abstract
Experiments with components of leaf-surface sterilization techniques were conducted on samples of turtlegrass (Thalassia testudinum Konig) leaves. Both samples directly from the field and samples containing growing mycelium of known identity were used. Spores of potential dormant leaf-surface inhabitors were applied. Effectiveness of surface-sterilizing procedures ranged from nil to nearly complete. Effective surface sterilization resulted in some diminution of frequencies of fungi known to be well established as internal, growing mycelium. A suitable method was chosen and applied in field studies of the mycoflora of turtlegrass leaves. Frequencies of fungal species after surface sterilization were much higher in decaying leaves from sandy intertidal zones (maximum 70-100%) than in decaying leaves from submerged sites (maximum 2-37%).