Identifying and controlling botrytis in greenhouse tomato production

Botrytis, or gray mold, caused by the fungus, Botrytis cinerea, can cause significant losses in high tunnel and greenhouse tomato production if not controlled properly.

The pathogen can rapidly spread during periods when structures are closed and when relative humidity remains high for long periods of time.

This often occurs when outside weather remains cool and damp while heating is needed. Gray mold is favored by temperatures from 64° to 75° F and requires only high humidity (not leaf wetness) to become established. The pathogen has a large host range and once established in an enclosed structure it can be very difficult to control (University of Massachusetts). The fungus can survive/overwinter as mycelia or sclerotia in plant debris and in organic soil matter (North Carolina State University).

Botrytis is ubiquitous (e.g., found everywhere) and prefers to attack senescing or injured plant tissue. Botrytis cinerea is an excellent saprophyte as well as a pathogen. This means that any dying or dead tissue on tomato plants (or any other plant in the structure) can easily become infected. The pathogen will attack flowers, fruit (at the stem end of infected fruit or by causing ghost spot), leaves, and stems; importantly, plants that have recently been suckered or pruned. Stem infections occur during periods of high humidity through leaf scars, cracks, and pruning wounds. Spores can remain dormant for up to 12 weeks within pruning leaf scars and are triggered to germinate during plant stress. Stem lesions may expand in concentric rings to girdle the entire stem causing wilting above the infection site (NCSU).

Botrytis can be controlled by the management of environmental conditions, sound cultural practices, and fungicide applications.

As stated above, gray mold is favored by temperatures from 64° to 75°F and requires only high humidity (not leaf wetness) to become established. Keep relative humidity as low as possible by a combination of heating and venting in the evening, particularly when warm days are followed by cool nights. Maintain adequate airflow with horizontal fans. Avoid the overcrowding of plants. Maintain proper fertility programs. Run regular tissue tests. Gray mold is known to be favored by low calcium levels. In particular, calcium to phosphorus levels of less than 2:1 may make the tomato plant more susceptible to gray mold (UMASS). Keep floors and structures clean of any plant debris or organic matter. All pruned plant material needs to be removed immediately. Do not work on wet plants, prune plants in the early afternoon allowing wounds to dry quickly (NCSU).

Control options

Controlling botrytis begins with proactive cultural practices, recognizing conditions that are conducive for its development, and symptoms on infected plant materials. There are a number of conventional and organic fungicides labeled for its control in the greenhouse and high tunnel. Please see Table E-11 in the 2020/2021 Mid-Atlantic Commercial Vegetable Production Recommendations Guide.

– Rutgers University