Phyllosphere 2022: 11th International Symposium on Leaf Surface Microbiology

This Meeting-Review article offers a synthesis of the science presented and discussed at the recently held 11th-International-Symposium-on-Leaf-Surface-Microbiology, also known as Phyllosphere-2022 (University of California-Davis, 17-21 July 2022). Twice-postponed due to Covid-19, this in-person conference covered wide-ranging-but-intersecting topics related to the microbiology of leaves (and other above-ground parts of plants), including phyto-pathology, food-safety, plant-physiology, microbial-ecology, fluid-physics, vegetation-science, single-cell biology, canopy-architecture, and human-health. The overarching theme of the meeting (‘understanding-the-rules-of-phyllospheric life’) was explored in 46 podium- and 12 poster-presentations. It also fueled the formal and informal discussions among 90+ conference participants about existing and new questions in phyllosphere-microbiology. Are there first principles underlying the acquisition, assembly and succession of microbial communities in the phyllosphere? How best to define, recognize, and exploit phyllosphere-fitness of microscopic leaf dwellers? At what scales do or should we sample, interrogate, and understand the phyllosphere? What needs to be learned still that keeps us from new insights, resources and tools to produce healthier and more-nutritious plant foliage? Having the conference at UC Davis in the summer presented a unique opportunity to 'vertically-integrate' high school students from the COSMOS program into the Phyllosphere-2022 conference and allow face-to-face interactions with early-career and senior-scientists in phyllosphere-microbiology. Students thus experienced first-hand the ways in which scientists address problems that affect society and seek understanding and solutions to those problems. It represented an effective approach to engage a younger generation into thinking about research and stewardship of plants and their foliage, and more generally about the merits of a science career.