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Botryotinia fuckeliana (de Bary) Whetzel x grapevine
Sclerotinia fuckeliana (de Bary) Fuckel

Mycologia, ASCOMYCOTINA, HELOTIALES, SCLEROTINIACEAE .

Crops attacked: grapevine .

[R]Common Names :

Grey rot,

Always present once the conditions are favourable (high humidity, deficient aeration and suitable temperatures).

Identification, Description, Biology, Epidemiology, Treatement, Possible misleading, Images

[R]Identification
The conidiophores and conidia form a greyish mould on the affected organs; the sclerotia are easily visible as black pustules that appear in the elongated spots in the shoots, in autumn. The fungus can be isolated and grown in artificial nutritive media.

[R]Description
Necrotic spots triangular in shape formed at the edge of the leaves; brown elongated spots, in the young shoots (that may break), turning black at the maturation due to the formation of sclerotia; total or partial destruction of the bunches before flowering and later on, infection through the wounds, by contact between berries or by infection of the rachis and peduncule.

[R]Biology
The fungus may overwinter as a saprophyte in dead plant organs or in the bud scales mainly as sclerotia. The infection takes place from these, forming new mycelium and conidia which will germinate in the young shoots, leaves and bunches (direct infection) or through wounds or dead organs (floral pieces) ; in maturing bunches, infection takes place through the wounds or by contact between berries.
In autumn, the unripened shoots show elongated whitish spots, producing black sclerotia.

[R]Epidemiology
The infection takes place after the bud bursting under high humidity conditions and suitable temperatures (15-20 °C.) ; deficient aeration (dense vegetation) is very favourable to the disease development.
The ascospores and conidia, particularly from infected ripen bunches, may be carried by the wind or insects.

[R]Treatement
Good aeration of the crops.
Chemical preventive measures with appropriate fungicides, at the beginning of the vegetation (protection of young shoots) and at the maturation (protection of the bunches).

[R]Possible misleading
The spots caused by Plasmopara viticola , particularly in the tender organs, either shoots, leaves or young bunches but, on those spots appears a white grainy pubescence, whereas in B. cinerea the pubescence is dusty, greyish and the leaf spots are usually triangular near the edges.

[R] Images

  1. Botrytis cinerea , Grey mould (BUGARET Y., INRA)
    Grey mould on grapevine Sclerotia of Botrytis cinerea on the shoots of a mechanically harvested grapevine.
  2. Botrytis cinerea , Grey mould (BASF)
    Grey mould on grapevine Sporulation of Botrytis cinerea on a grapevine shoot during springtime.
  3. Botrytis cinerea , Grey mould (BASF)
    Grey mould on grapevine Asexual spores (conidia) of Botrytis cinerea as seen through the light microscope.
  4. Botrytis cinerea , Grey mould (BASF)
    Grey mould on grapevine Sporulation of grey mould on a floral hood.
  5. Botrytis cinerea , Grey mould (BASF)
    Grey mould on grapevine Grey mould growing on the rachis of a grape bunch.
  6. Botrytis cinerea , Grey mould (LAFON R., INRA)
    Grey mould on grapevine Grey mould growing on a grape bunch.
  7. Botrytis cinerea , Grey mould (BUGARET Y., INRA)
    Grey mould on grapevine Grey mould covering the meatus of the cluster.
  8. Botrytis cinerea , Grey mould (BASF)
    Grey mould on grapevine A few grapes attacked by grey mould together with meatus that are beginning to be filled with sporulations.

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