Preliminary Characterization of Cultivable Epiphytic Microorganisms Associated with Eryngium caucasicum Trautv

Susanna Stalikovna Mirzabekyan; Hasmik Gagik Grigoryan; Haykush Gurgenovna Batikyan; Anahit Manvelovna Manvelyan; Mahsa Khalegh Daryadar; Natalya Aram Harutyunyan; Marine Harutyun Balayan; Astghik Zavenovna Pepoyan

Susanna Stalikovna Mirzabekyan Armenian National Agrarian University https://orcid.org/0000-0001-5151-2151
Hasmik Gagik Grigoryan Armenian National Agrarian University https://orcid.org/0009-0009-7229-1568
Haykush Gurgenovna Batikyan Armenian National Agrarian University https://orcid.org/0000-0002-1970-7626
Anahit Manvelovna Manvelyan Armenian National Agrarian University https://orcid.org/0000-0003-0816-5152
Mahsa Khalegh Daryadar Institute of Hydroponics Problems after G.S. Davtyan NAS RA https://orcid.org/0000-0002-4903-9366
Natalya Aram Harutyunyan Armenian National Agrarian University https://orcid.org/0000-0002-1576-4981
Marine Harutyun Balayan Armenian National Agrarian University https://orcid.org/0000-0003-1276-158X
Astghik Zavenovna Pepoyan Armenian National Agrarian University https://orcid.org/0000-0002-1935-5341

Keywords: Eryngium caucasicum, phyllosphere microbiota, epiphytic microorganisms, cultivable microflora, plant surface bacteria

Abstract

Plant surfaces host diverse microbial communities that form the phyllosphere microbiota and may influence the stability and biological properties of plant raw materials. However, information about cultivable epiphytic microorganisms associated with medicinal and wild edible plants of the South Caucasus region remains limited. The present study aimed to obtain preliminary microbiological characteristics of microorganisms inhabiting the aerial parts of Eryngium caucasicum Trautv.

Leaves of two- and three-year-old plants were gently washed in physiological saline to recover surface-associated microorganisms without tissue disruption. Suspensions were inoculated onto nutrient agar and MRS agar and incubated under standard conditions in triplicate.

Cultivation revealed a stable and reproducible community of microorganisms represented by several colony morphotypes, including coccoid, bacillary and yeast-like forms. Colony number and composition varied depending on plant age and processing conditions. Two-year-old plants demonstrated higher counts of filamentous and bacillary colonies on nutrient agar, whereas three-year-old plants showed relatively greater representation of coccoid forms on MRS medium. Microorganisms remained detectable after washing procedures, indicating persistent surface association rather than incidental contamination.

The obtained results confirm the presence of a cultivable epiphytic microbiota on E. caucasicum and demonstrate its variability under different sampling conditions, providing a basis for further functional and taxonomic characterization.