The phyllosphere, comprising the aerial components of plants, represents a dynamic and heterogeneous habitat for diverse microbial communities. Leaves, flowers, stems, fruits and pollen provide distinct microhabitats that are colonized by epiphytic microorganisms, while endophytes inhabit internal plant tissues. Phyllosphere microbiota originates from diverse sources, including soil, seeds and air, and are subsequently shaped by host characteristics and environmental conditions. Despite exposure to intense solar and ultraviolet radiation, fluctuating temperature and moisture, and limited nutrient availability, microbial communities persist through specialized adaptations. They contribute to plant nutrition through biological nitrogen fixation and mineral solubilization, influence growth and development through plant-growth regulators and protect plants against pathogens through competition, antibiosis and modulation of host defence. Phyllosphere microorganisms also participate in volatile-compound transformation, biogeochemical cycling and phylloremediation, highlighting their broader ecological and biotechnological significance.
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Phylloremediation, Phyllosphere microbiome, Plant health, Plant-microbe interactions
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