The recent cool and cloudy weather has influenced conditions in the field as well as in greenhouses and high tunnels. I have observed more Botrytis gray mold of tomatoes in greenhouses this spring than usual. This is due in part to the weather. This article will discuss this disease on tomatoes and some management options. Gray mold is caused by a fungus that attacks many types of vegetables and ornamentals. The fungus is not a strong pathogen and often starts on weakened or senescent tissue such as old flower petals. The gray mold fungus, Botrytis cinerea, may be a weak pathogen, but it is a good saprophyte, growing well on old crop debris and organic matter until a good plant host is available. Figure 1 shows a tomato leaf on which a flower petal has fallen. Since the gray mold fungus is sporulating on the flower petal, there is a[Read More…]
