From the Ground to the Atmosphere: Monitoring and Predicting the Release of Harmful Fungal Pathogens

The release and transport through the atmosphere of the fungal pathogen Fusarium graminearum is experimentally analyzed and modeled. High-speed Particle Image Velocimetry experiments are conducted to investigate the release of F. graminaerum spores. From this data, a model is developed to describe this release process. Additionally the transport of F. graminaerum through the atmosphere is simulated from wind velocity data and known locations of F. graminaerum outbreaks.