Dispersal of Pseudocercosporella herpotrichoides and Pyrenopeziza brassicae spores in splash droplets

Abstract

Splash dispersal of conidia which differ in shape and size, those of Pseudocercosporella herpo ichoides (needle-shaped, 52×2 μm) and Pyrenopeziza hrassicae (cylindrical, 12×3 μm), was studisd by allowing 5 mm drops to fall 13 m on to suspensions (depth 0.5 mm, concentration 120, 000 spores/ml) of each. The resulting splash droplets were collected on photographic film. The pattern of spore dispersal with distance and the distribution of spore-carrying droplets and spores within droplet-size categories were similar for both fungi. Regressions of square root spore number) on droplet diameter gave lines with slopes of 0.0138 for P. herpotrichoides and 0.0167 for P. brassicae.