Pollen morphology, leaf surfaces, mycobiota diversity and leaf spots of three species ofZygophyllumgrowing along Cairo‐Suez desert road, Eastern (Arabian) desert in Egypt

Abstract

AbstractThree native species ofZygophyllum:Z. coccinumL.,Z. decumbensL.and Z. simplexL. (Zygophyllaceae) have been investigated morphologically, palynologically and mycologically. Twenty‐two fungal species belonging to 11 genera were collected from leaf surfaces (11 genera and 22 species) and anthers/ pollen grains (7, 13) ofZygophyllum coccinum, Z. decumbens and Z. simplexon Czapek‐Dox agar at 25 °C. Fungal diversity of the two microhabitats is basically similar and the most prevalent fungi wereAlternaria alternata/A. phragmospora, Cladosporium cladosporioides/C. herbarumandUlocladium botrytis/U. consortiale.Alternaria alternata,Cladosporium cladosporioidesandC. herbarum‐leaf spots were rarely recorded in the three studied plant species.Leaf lamina size and sculpture of the studied taxa almost seem to be the most reliable factors of the fungal biodiversity on the studied plant species. On the other hand, reticulate‐micro reticulate pollen type is the only pollen type recorded in the present study which reflects that the very narrow range of spectrum of fungal biodiversity between the studied plant species. (© 2007 WILEY‐VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim)