Botrytis cinerea on plants cultivated for cut flower in Argentina

Abstract

Several symptoms could be observed on ornamental cut flowers as the result of surveys carried out in crops and markets in Buenos Aires. Samples received at the laboratory for diagnosis had similar symptoms. Translucid flecks appeared on petals of different ornamental species. They became brown and confluent covering the whole flower, sometimes extending towards the stem. When flower buds were aff ected, they could not develop and became mummified. Wounds caused by pruning preceded the development of twig blights. Gray mold developed on all the areas showing the symptoms. The disease described above was observed on Anemone coronaria L., Chrysanthemum sp., Dianthus caryophyllus, Gerbera jamesonii Bolus ex J.D. Hook, Gladiolus sp., Godetia sp., Limonium sp., Rosa sp., Strelitzia reginae Banks ex Aiton and Tagetes sp. Botrytis cinerea Pers.: Pers. has been proved to be the causal agent of the disease. Except for Dianthus caryophyllus and Rosa sp. all the mentioned species are reported for the first time as hosts of this pathogen in Argentina.