Fig. 3

Leaf surface topology affects fungal colonisation. Scanning electron micrographs showing the effect of leaf topology and surfaces on the epiphytic growth of the phytopathogenic fungus, Zymoseptoria tritici IPO323. A Fungal proliferation on the leaf surface is spatially heterogeneous. Spores are ‘captured’ by trichomes and proliferate by both hyphal and budding growth into aggregates around the base of these specialised cells, possibly due to physicochemical differences such as water availability or the presence of leaf exudates in this microhabitat. B Z. tritici can form biofilms on leaf surfaces; here, a mass of cells embedded in ECM can be seen surrounding a wheat trichome. C Hyphal growth in Z. tritici is not obviously directed by leaf features; here, one hypha follows and anticlinal cell wall while others are not oriented to topological features. Hyphae have crossed a stomatal aperture without penetrating the leaf. Scale bars (red) = 5 mM