Phyllosphere, Front and Center: Focus on a Formerly ‘Ecologically Neglected’ Microbial Milieu

Abstract

The phyllosphere encompasses leaves and other aerial tissues of plants, which together provide diverse habitats for micro- and macro-organisms. In this editorial for the Phytobiomes Journal Focus Issue on the Phyllosphere, we celebrate the tremendous growth and impact of phyllosphere science as a discipline by introducing and providing context for 14 articles by nearly 100 authors from over 40 institutions. These articles collectively highlight the current status of the field and offer ideas for future directions. They explore topics related to phyllosphere biodiversity, community assembly and dynamics, and the adaptive capacity of species, populations, and communities on leaf surfaces and other phyllosphere compartments. The articles also delve into the multipartite relationships that phyllosphere colonizers have with each other and with their host, and issues of global concern such as food security, food safety, and climate change. This collection of work illustrates the international, transdisciplinary and collaborative nature of phyllosphere science, the challenges that the discipline faces, and the importance of recruiting and training the next generation of phyllosphere scientists.