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Diurnal Release of Airborne Pathogen Spores in Greenhouses via the Synergistic Effects of Relative Humidity and Wind

Summary

When humidity drops during the day in greenhouses, fungal spores shrink and disconnect from the fungus, releasing into the air. Even light winds can carry these spores to nearby plants, causing rapid disease spread. Understanding this process helps growers control ventilation and humidity to prevent cucumber and other vegetable diseases in greenhouses.

Background

Greenhouse vegetable cultivation is increasingly common but faces challenges from microbial diseases that spread faster than in open fields. Humidity and wind significantly affect pathogenic fungal spore dispersal, yet the cellular mechanisms underlying rapid spore spread in greenhouses remain poorly understood.

Objective

This study aims to elucidate the mechanism by which Corynespora cassiicola spores detach from hyphae under changing humidity conditions and disperse via wind, and to determine whether similar mechanisms exist in other fungal species.

Results

Spores exhibit jerking movements and detach when relative humidity drops below 52%, with connection strength being 10-fold higher at 100% RH versus 53.5% RH. Similar humidity-dependent jerking behavior was observed in other hyphomycete species. Wind speeds as low as 0.5 m/s enable spore dispersal, with distance increasing with wind speed, duration, and spore source height.

Conclusion

The synergistic effects of diurnal humidity fluctuations and wind drive rapid pathogen spread in greenhouses. These findings support development of ecological prevention strategies including timed ventilation and localized dehumidification to manage airborne fungal diseases in greenhouse environments.
  • Published in:Advanced Science (Weinheim),
  • Study Type:Experimental Research,
  • Source: PMID: 40349151, DOI: 10.1002/advs.202501500
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