Botrytis cinerea: The Cause of Tomatoes Gray Mold

Abstract

Tomato (Solanum lycopersicum L.) is an important and valuable fruit because of its unique economic, health, and nutritional benefits. Among the fungal diseases affecting tomato crops, gray mold caused by Botrytis cinerea Pers.: Fr., is considered one of the most devastating diseases leading to an accountable loss. This airborne pathogen has the ability to kill tomato cells and produce toxins, causing massive production losses at all development stages and even post-harvest. Annual economic yield losses due to gray mold have been estimated at more than 80%. Currently, cultural practices and fungicide applications are employed for the management of gray mold due to the lack of reliable resistant cultivars. A thorough understanding of B. cinerea epidemiology and infection processes is needed to guide future efforts in the development of innovative integrated management practices. This review summarizes the current knowledge of symptoms and signs, epidemiology, ecology, disease development, disease cycle, and disease management.

Harnessing Soil Diversity: Innovative Strategies for Potato Blight Management in Central-Eastern Poland

“…IPM strategies are crucial for sustainable agriculture, balancing the need for crop protection with environmental and economic considerations. These practices are continually evolving with advances in plant breeding, precision agriculture, and fungicide development, offering new tools and techniques to manage late blight more effectively [2,8,18,35]. Mujica & Kroschel [36] and Kroschel et al [37] evaluated integrated pest management (IPM) versus farmer practices for controlling pests and diseases in potatoes (Solanum tuberosum L.) on the central coast of Peru.…”

“…This process begins with meiosis in the gametangia, followed by the fusion of the male antheridium nucleus with the female oogonium nucleus (karyogamy). This fusion results in the formation of a thick-walled, diploid oospore capable of long-term dormancy [8,46]. The coexistence of both mating types increased the potential for sexual reproduction and oospore formation in P. infestans, posing a serious threat to potato and tomato production worldwide [35].…”

“…The environmental factors that influence P. infestans development underscore the need for targeted strategies in disease management. For instance, cool and wet conditions favor the rapid spread and infection of crops by zoospores, while dry and sunny conditions can limit the spread of sporangia [8,12,43,46,47]. Therefore, understanding and monitoring these environmental conditions are essential for effective disease control measures.…”

“…− International cooperation: Exchange of knowledge, experiences, and best practices among countries can accelerate progress in the field of sustainable agriculture. Initiatives such as exchange programs, international conferences, and partnerships can be effective ways to promote global cooperation [3,7,8]. Finally, there is a need for an integrated approach to agriculture that considers economic, social, and environmental aspects.…”

“…Recent research highlights the economic impact of potato blight, causing significant yield reductions and financial losses for farmers. Developing comprehensive disease management strategies, including research on resistant varieties and international cooperation, is crucial for protecting farmers and ensuring food security [8][9][10][11][12]. This work delves into the complex nature of P. infestans, reviews the effectiveness of current integrated pest management (IPM) strategies, and analyzes the potential of innovative, sustainable approaches for controlling this disease within both ecological and inte-grated potato cultivation systems [13].…”