Botrytis
- Other plant pests & diseases: Pests & diseases
Full name: Botrytis cinerea.[1] Also called: grey mould, gray mold, botrytis bunch rot (in viticulture).
Botrytis is a fungus and parasite and affects seedlings and all parts of plants. The fungal spores penetrate plants through wonds, petals of fading flowers, leaf tips and stems of seedlings. The fungus multiplies mostly under humid and warm conditions. It grows on decaying and dead plant material and from there can affect living plants. The affected parts first develop brown spots and later form a gray fluffy mold.
Some of the crops that can be affected: Rhubarb, strawberries, eggplant, beans, peppers, lettuce, tomatoes, onions and chicory.
To minimize infection in strawberry fields, good ventilation around the berries is important. This is accomplished by separating the strawberry leaves and fruits from the soil using straw or saw dust or wood chips, rather than planting them directly on the ground. You can also plant strawberries on hills and give each plant enough space. Strawberries on dry sandy soils are less affected, but also will give less harvest.
Remove fruits and plants that were affected. I'm experimenting with spraying compost tea over plants to prevent botrytis and the preliminary results are promising.
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