BOTRYTIS
Botrytis is a disease caused by a fungus that can affect many popular annuals and perennials. It reproduces quickly when temperatures are warm and humidity is high. Botrytis blight can affect leaves, stems, crowns, flowers, flower buds, seeds, seedlings, bulbs, and just about any other part of a plant with the exception of the roots.
Botrytis blight or gray mold is a fungus disease which infects a wide array of herbaceous annual and perennial plants. There are several species of the fungus Botrytis which can cause blights; the most common is Botrytis cinerea. Botrytis infections are favored by cool, rainy spring and summer weather usually around 15C (60F). Gray mold can be particularly damaging when rainy, drizzly weather continues over several days.
Detection is based on symptoms including bud blast, leaf spots and flower blight, as well as signs such as a proliferation of gray mold covering the diseased plant.
Infected plant material should be removed and disposed of. Maintaining good plant spacing for proper air circulation is an important cultural control. Humidity levels may be reduced by avoiding overhead watering.
On most susceptible plants, new infections may begin in the spring as soon as weather conditions are favorable for disease development. Wet or very humid weather may be highly favorable for the spread of the disease. The best way to manage this disease is by inspection and sanitation. Fungicide sprays may also help by protecting plants from infections. |