A viability quantitative PCR (v-qPCR) assay was developed for the unambiguous detection and quantification of Lactobacillus plantarum PM411 viable cells in aerial plant surfaces. A 972-bp region of a PM411 predicted prophage with mosaic architecture enabled the identification of a PM411 strain-specific molecular marker. Three primer sets with different amplicon lengths (92, 188, and 317 bp) and one TaqMan probe were designed. All the qPCR assays showed good linearity over a 4-log range and good efficiencies but differed in sensitivity. The nucleic acid-binding dye PEMAX was used to selectively detect and enumerate viable bacteria by v-qPCR. The primer set amplifying a 188-bp DNA fragment was selected as the most suitable for v-qPCR. The performance of the method was assessed on apple blossoms, pear, strawberry, and kiwifruit leaves in potted plants under controlled environmental conditions, as well as pear and apple blossoms under field conditions, by comparing v-qPCR population estimations to those obtained by qPCR and specific plate counting on de Man-Rogosa-Sharpe (MRS)-rifampin. The population estimation did not differ significantly between methods when conditions were conducive to bacterial survival. However, under stressful conditions, differences between methods were observed due to cell death or viable-but-nonculturable state induction. While qPCR overestimated the population level, plate counting underestimated this value in comparison to v-qPCR. PM411 attained stable population levels of viable cells on the flower environment under high relative humidity. However, the unfavorable conditions on the leaf surface and the relatively dryness in the field caused an important decrease in the viable population
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