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Updated: Aug 8, 2026
08:56
Transient Expression in Nicotiana Benthamiana Leaves for Triterpene Production at a Preparative Scale
Published on: August 16, 2018
Ventilation required to entrain small particles from leaves
1The Connecticut Agricultural Experiment Station, New Haven, Connecticut 06504.
Plant Physiology
|July 1, 1975
Summary
Wind speed exceeding 5 m/sec at particle height dislodges fungal spores from leaves. Abrupt wind changes, or puffs, within leaf canopies can reach this threshold, enabling spore dispersal. This particle transport is crucial for understanding fungal spread.
Area of Science:
- Aerobiology
- Plant Pathology
- Environmental Physics
Background:
- Fungal spores are dispersed by wind, a critical factor in plant disease epidemiology.
- Understanding the physics of particle detachment from leaf surfaces is essential for predicting spore movement.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the wind speed thresholds required for dislodging fungal spores from leaves.
- To determine the role of wind dynamics within plant canopies in facilitating spore release.
Main Methods:
- Analysis of wind speed profiles at particle height within leaf canopies.
- Modeling of particle detachment based on wind speed and turbulence characteristics.
Main Results:
- A minimum wind speed of approximately 5 m/sec at particle height is necessary for spore detachment.
- Brief wind fluctuations (puffs) within moderate canopy winds can reach the detachment threshold.
- Abrupt, localized changes in wind speed are most effective for widespread spore removal.
Conclusions:
- Wind speed dynamics, particularly abrupt changes, significantly influence fungal spore dispersal from foliage.
- The findings provide insights into the mechanisms of airborne pathogen spread.
- This research aids in developing strategies for managing fungal diseases in agricultural and natural ecosystems.
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