Leaf surface   Incubation times (h) SED P 0          2         4            8 Time Surface Time Surface Whole leaf 1.9a 3.7b 3.8b 5.2c 0.13 0.11 <0.001 <0.001 Abaxial 1.0a 1.8b 1.9b 2.2c         Adaxial 1.1a 2.0b 2.4b 3.2c         T, effect of incubation time.F, effect of plant fragment. F x T interaction effects was not significant. Values within the same row with different superscripts were significantly different (P< 0.05). SED, standard errors of differences of means.RDM, remaining dry matter

Table 4: Bacterial 16S rDNA quantity (ng g-1 Remaining Dry Matter (RDM)) attached to abaxial and adaxial leaf surfaces following incubation of leaves for up to 24 h in the presence of mixed rumen bacteria.