Factors affecting the development of Botrytis cinerea (grey mould) on linseed (Linum usitatissimum) buds, flowers and capsules

Abstract

A key was produced to describe 10 stages of development of linseed buds, flowers and capsules. Botrytis cinerea conidia germinated more rapidly and germ tubes grew longer on linseed stigmas, petals and mature senescing capsules than on green leaves, sepals and immature capsules. The proportion of conidia which germinated increased and the germ tubes continued growing for longer in the presence of linseed pollen and flower petal extracts. In controlled environment and field experiments, the response of buds, flowers and capsules to inoculation with B. cinerea changed with stage of development; few pre-flowering buds developed symptoms (brown lesions, then grey mould), but high proportions of flowering and post-flowering buds did so. Few immature green capsules developed symptoms and the proportion or capsules which developed symptoms increased as they matured. The presence of linseed pollen decreased the incubation period from inoculation with spore suspensions to appearance of B. cinerea symptoms on buds. A disease cycle was produced to suggest the changes in susceptibility of linseed to infection by B. cinerea conidia during bud, flower and capsule development

Demographic constraints in three populations of Lobelia boykinii: a rare wetland endemic1

“…Earlier flowering in the ACB and SLP populations probably also contributed to the lower amounts of fungal infection of flowers in these populations. Fungal infection coinciding with floral development is known to interfere with subsequent capsule production in other plant species (e.g., McNicol et al 1985, Perryman et al 2002, as was observed in the BCM population. Susceptibility to Botrytis cinerea infection is greatest during early floral development (Perryman et al 2002).…”

“…Fungal infection coinciding with floral development is known to interfere with subsequent capsule production in other plant species (e.g., McNicol et al 1985, Perryman et al 2002, as was observed in the BCM population. Susceptibility to Botrytis cinerea infection is greatest during early floral development (Perryman et al 2002). By the time that the incidence of fungal infection was high, in mid-June, floral development was much farther along in ACB and SLP than in BCM.…”