Because leaf surfaces are often biologically simpler habitats that the corresponding rhizosphere habitats, many basic studies such as those addressing gene transfer among leaf microbial residents, and the physical structure of microbial communities has been addressed primarily in this habitat. The importance of the leaf surface as a reservoir of both bacteriral and fungal pahtogens of plants is becoming even more appreciated. It is also apparent that many human pathogens such as enterohemorrhagic strains of E. coli can colonize plant parts and pose a health risk. Understanding the colonization of plants by such pathogens obviously will benefit from an understanding of the nature of the leaf surface environment and its other dominant colonists. It is therefore expected that the program for the conference to be held in 2000 will include topics relevant to advances in both the technologies of the study of plant surface-microbe interactions and in the basic ecology of this ecosystem.
Rain is VERY unlikely.
Cool breezes often occur in the evening and it can get quite chilly.