We show that for a general rational function $A$ of degree $m \geq 2$, any decomposition of its iterate $A^{ \circ n}$, $n \geq 1$, into a composition of indecomposable rational functions is equivalent to the decomposition $A^{ \circ n}$ itself. As an application, we prove that if $(A_1, A_2)$ is a general pair of rational functions, then the endomorphism of $\mathbb C\mathbb P^1 \times \mathbb C\mathbb P^1$ given by $(z_1, z_2) \mapsto (A_1(z_1), A_2(z_2))$ admits a periodic curve that is neither a vertical nor a horizontal line if and only if $A_1$ and $A_2$ are conjugate.
Categories: math.DS math.AG