Botrytis cinerea in greenhouse vegetables: chemical, cultural, physiological and biological controls and their integration

Abstract

Botrytis cinerea is an ubiquitous pathogen which causes severe losses in many fruit, vegetable and ornamental crops. The pathogen infects leaves, stems, flowers and fruits. The complexity of diseases caused by B. cinerea in greenhouses makes this pathogen one of the most important diseases of vegetable crops in greenhouse in many countries. In general, epidemics occur in cool and humid conditions, which favour infection and may also predispose the host to become susceptible. High relative humidity in the greenhouse and free moisture on plant surfaces are considered the most important environmental factors which influence infection by B. cinerea. In this review we specify the factors affecting the development of diseases incited by B. cinerea and discuss different approaches for its suppression. Chemical and non-chemical controls are outlined and their integration is discussed. Finally, achievements, gaps in knowledge, and future needs are indicated. The most common means for disease management is by application of chemical fungicides. Both spraying of fungicides and application of fungicides directly to sporulating wounds is practiced. However, high activity of several fungicides is being lost, at least in part, due to the development of resistance. As fungicides still remain an important tool for control of epidemics caused by B. cinerea, it is important to monitor populations of the pathogen for their resistance towards potential fungicides. Cultural measures can be a powerful means to suppress plant diseases in greenhouses where the value of crops is high and the farmers make considerable efforts during long cropping seasons. Such measures are usually aimed at altering the microclimate in the canopy and around susceptible plant organs, prevention of inoculum entrance into the greenhouse and its build up, and, rendering the host plants less susceptible to diseases. Calcium loading of plant tissues and alteration of nitrogen fertilization reduce susceptibility to Botrytis. Cultivars resistant to B. cinerea are not available. Another alternative methods to control B. cinerea is by means of biological control agents. At least one preparation is already available in the market and in many cases it was as effective as the conventional fungicides. A decision support system was recently developed for integration of chemical and biological controls. Adaquate suppression of B. cinerea diseases in greenhouse crops is an attainable goal. In our opinion this goal can be reached by considering the ecology of the pathosystem in its broader sense and by integration of all possible control measures. This implies optimization of plant nutrition, microclimate and control (cultural, biological, physiological and, if necessary, chemical) measures. Moreover, Botrytis management must be incorporated in a more holistic system that is compatible with insect control, crop production systems and profitability of the crop.

Effects of Airflow and Changing Humidity on the Aerosolization of Respirable Fungal Fragments and Conidia of Botrytis cinerea

“…cinerea is able to grow parasitically or saprophytically on many plant materials (11,33), and indoor plantings are described as sources of indoor exposure of fungi in general (3, 51). It is not known whether B. cinerea grows on common building materials, such as gypsum boards or floor paper.…”

Pérdida de pubescencia foliar y sus efectos fisiológicos en Espeletia paipana (Asterales, Asteraceae), en el departamento de Boyacá-Colombia

“…Botrytis es un patógeno ubicuo que infecta hojas, flores y frutos, causa estrangulamiento del tallo, manchas y pudrición en tubérculos, bulbos y raíces de vegetales y frutales (Elad & Shtienberg, 1995;Agrios, 2005). Las condiciones de alta humedad relativa, un bajo déficit de presión de vapor en la superficie de las plantas y temperaturas bajas, características de los ambientes de páramo en época húmeda, promueven la infección por Botrytis y predisponen la susceptibilidad del hospedero (Elad, 1996;Widiastuti, et al, 2011).…”

Grey mould development in greenhouse tomatoes under drip and furrow irrigation

“…In sheltered vegetable culture in the Mediterranean area, grey mould, caused by Botrytis cinerea, is one of the most serious airborne diseases both in terms of incidence and in terms of the difficulties encountered by growers for its management (Elad and Shtienberg, 1995). Although published data on the prevalence of this disease in Algeria are lacking, preliminary surveys conducted by our group in vegetable production areas of northeastern Algeria have shown that grey mould is also a major plant health concern.…”