Morphological, genetic and pathogenic variability among Botrytis cinerea species complex causing gray mold of strawberry

• Published in: Physiological and molecular plant pathology Vol. 134; p. 102395
• Main Authors: Yousef, Safaa A.M., Ali, Ayat M., Elsherbiny, Elsherbiny A., Atwa, Atwa A.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Elsevier Ltd 01-11-2024
• Subjects: B. californica; B. eucalypti; Botrytis cinerea; HPLC; Oxalic acid; Strawberry; B. eucalypti; Botrytis cinerea; Oxalic acid; Strawberry; HPLC; B. californica
• ISSN: 0885-5765
• DOI: 10.1016/j.pmpp.2024.102395

The necrotrophic fungus Botrytis cinerea is capable of infecting more than 1400 plant species, encompassing both dicotyledons and monocotyledons. Recognized as the world's second most destructive fungal pathogen, B. cinerea is responsible for significant pre- and postharvest diseases, especially gray mold on a variety of economically important crops, vegetables, and fruits. This study focused on characterizing the variability of ten B. cinerea isolates from strawberry fruits harvested across various regions in Egypt. The differentiation among these isolates was evaluated through morphological, genetic, pathogenic, and biochemical methods. The isolates exhibited variation in cultural development, colony color, shape, margin, and texture. The study highlighted morphological differences in conidiophores, variations in conidia size, and sclerotia production on three different media. The ten Botrytis isolates have differed in mycelial growth rate and pathogenicity on strawberry fruits and positively correlated with oxalic acid production. Isolate B3 of B. cinerea was the most aggressive, while isolate B5 demonstrated the lowest. Two isolates of Botrytis represented the first occurrence of Botrytis species in Egypt, B. californica and B. eucalypti, which were identified using ITS sequencing and combined with morphological characteristics. They were also responsible for causing gray mold on strawberry fruits. These results are expected to greatly contribute to the knowledge of morphological and genetic variability in B. cinerea isolates, as well as offer valuable insights for the development of disease management strategies.
•Ten isolates of Botrytis spp. were isolated from strawberry fruit in Egypt.•Botrytis cinerea isolate B3 was the most aggressive on strawberry fruits.•B. californica and B. eucalypti representing the first recorded identification in Egypt.