Botrytis fruit rot management: What have we achieved so far?

Area of Science:

• Plant Pathology
• Mycology
• Agricultural Science

Background:

• Botrytis cinerea is a destructive necrotrophic phytopathogen impacting over 1400 plant species, particularly fruit crops.
• This fungus causes significant pre- and post-harvest fruit rot, leading to substantial worldwide economic losses.
• B. cinerea is notorious for infecting various plant parts, including fruits, leaves, flowers, and seeds, causing gray mold.

Purpose of the Study:

• To review research progress on estimating economic losses caused by Botrytis cinerea.
• To explore and summarize advancements in the detection and diagnosis techniques for B. cinerea.
• To discuss current and potential management strategies for controlling Botrytis fruit rot.

Main Methods:

• Review of scientific literature on Botrytis cinerea.
• Analysis of various detection techniques: DNA markers, volatile organic compounds, qPCR, chip-digital PCR, and nucleic acid sensors.
• Compilation of data on control methods: cultural, physical, chemical, and biological approaches.

Main Results:

• Botrytis cinerea causes widespread gray mold in fruit crops, resulting in major economic damage.
• Diverse methods for detecting and quantifying B. cinerea in plant samples have been developed.
• A range of strategies, from cultural practices to chemical and biological controls, are employed to manage the pathogen.

Conclusions:

• Effective control of Botrytis cinerea requires accurate detection and diagnosis.
• Integrated management strategies combining various methods are crucial for mitigating losses.
• Further research is needed to address knowledge gaps and develop novel approaches for B. cinerea management.