Sneezing plants helps viruses spread faster

The leaves of many plants and cereals are superhydrophobic, meaning that water droplets quickly roll down them.

Small drops on the leaves merge easily, andthe excess energy from their surface tension is converted into kinetic energy and causes some of the droplets to be expelled - this is called "sneezing" by the plant.

Research scientists found that as a resultThis process drops fly up to a height of 5 mm - there they are picked up by the wind. Drops may contain spores of fungi that are dangerous for cereals, for example, Puccinia recondita, which cause brown rust in wheat.

The study notes that the process of spreading the dispute occurs fairly quickly - in an hour a large plant can share ten mushroom spores with its neighbors.

Previously, researchers from the University of Iowadeveloped a system for creating 3D images of cereals and herbs. The development will allow us to better understand the mechanism of pollination and the conditions for the growth of crops.