Figure 1. Experimental set-up for artificial rain.

Artificial rain was canalized by a conic tent with an open of 30 cm in diameter. Inoculum sources (Petri dishes with Cotton Blue solution and spores) were placed at the center of the rain zone. Microscope slides were placed in concentric circles around each source (at distances from 24 to 45 cm), and received spores either directly from rain splash from source (blue drops spores) or indirectly via re-splashes from ground (clear drops spores).