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Evaporation-driven internal flows within a sessile droplet can transport microorganisms close to the leaf surface and facilitate their infiltration into the available openings, such as stomata. Here, using microfabricated surfaces out of polydimethylsiloxane, the sole effects of evaporation of sessile droplets in contamination of plant leaves was studied. These surfaces were patterned with stomata, trichomes, and grooves that are common surface microstructures on plant leaves. Evaporation of sessile droplets, containing bacterial suspensions, on real leaves and fabricated surfaces was studied using confocal microscopy. To provide insight about the effects of leaf hydrophobicity and surface roughness on the bacterial retention and infiltration, variations of contact angle of sessile droplets at these surfaces were measured during evaporation. The results showed that evaporation-driven flow transported bacteria close to the surface of spinach leaves and fabricated surfaces, leading to distinct infiltration into the stomata. Larger size and wider spacing of the micropores, and a more hydrophilic surface, led bacteria to spread more at the droplet base area and infiltrate into more stomata. Evaporation-driven movement of contact line, which can sweep bacteria over the leaf surface, was shown to lead to bacterial infiltration into the stomatal pores. Findings should help improve microbial safety of leafy greens.

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Caves are oligotrophic, dark and less-explored environments and are considered as sources of promising microbial strains in biotechnology. Hampoeil Cave is located in massive dolomite with thin bedded limestone in northwestern of Iran. In an isolation and screening program, various samples from soil, water, floor, wall and ceiling of Hampoeil cave and its invertebrates were collected. Four various treatments and 10 different isolation media were used for the isolation of the actinobacteria. Screening of the isolates for antimicrobial activity against 10 bacteria and fungi, 5 hydrolytic enzymes production and resistance to 5 heavy metals have been performed. Among 33 various samples, 76 actinobacteria from various genera, including Streptomyces, Micromonospora, Micrococcus, Kocuria and Corynebacterium were isolated. Eighty percent of the strains had one of the studied hydrolytic enzyme activity. At least one type of antimicrobial activity was seen in 25.3% of the isolates. Resistance to one metal or more was seen in 26.32% of the isolates. The ratio of rare-actinobacteria in the oligotrophic samples to enriched samples is 20% more than Streptomyces. Percentage of strains with the highest activity in esterase, amylase, DNase, protease or lipase activity that were isolated from organic-rich environmental samples were 100, 100, 100, 82 and 82%, respectively. Also, 26.32% of the actinobacterial isolates resisted to heavy metals. It was concluded that Hampoeil cave is a good source in finding cave-living actinobacteria potent in producing hydrolytic enzymes and bioremediation.