The Phylogeny and Taxonomy of Phylloplane Yeasts on Banksia Integrifolia in South-Eastern Queensland
Phylloplane yeasts are important part of microbial communities in tropical and temperate regions. Phylloplane yeasts represent a diverse mycobiota with representatives from both the ascomycetes and basidiomycetes. Phylloplane yeasts have attracted attention because of their antagonistic activity to fungal plant pathogens in natural and agricultural environments. In Australia, the diversity of phylloplane yeasts on crop and indigenous plant species has received little attention. This study aims to identify the phyllolane yeasts on Banksia integrifolia, which is an iconic Australian plant species in the Proteaceae. Banksia integrifolia is widespread in sclerophyll shrublands and heathlands of south-east Queensland. This study will isolate, preserve and identify/classify the phylloplane yeasts on B. integrifolia. Accurate molecular phylogenies will be constructed in order to identify known species and classify novel yeast taxa.