botrytis

Botrytis cinerea is a necrotrophic fungus that affects many plant species, although its most notable hosts may be wine grapes.
In viticulture, it is commonly known as "botrytis bunch rot"; in horticulture, it is usually called "grey mould" or "gray mold".

Grey mold can develop fast and the disease can be devastating in the field, in greenhouses, and in post-harvest. Losses can be severe throughout the production system - at harvest, during transportation, selling, and after final sale.

Signs & Symptons

Symptoms vary across plant organs and tissues. B. cinerea is a soft rot that will have a collapsed and water soaked appearance on soft fruit and leaves. Brown lesions may develop slowly on undeveloped fruit. Twigs infected with gray mold will die back. Blossoms will cause fruit drop and injury, such as ridging on developing and mature fruit. Symptoms are visible at wound sites where the fungus begins to rot the plant. Gray masses with a velvety appearance are conidia on the plant tissues are a sign of plant pathogen. These conidia are asexual spores that will continue to infect the plant and surrounding hosts throughout the growing season making this a polycyclic disease.