Learning Opportunity: An Update on Botrytis Research and Crop Protection

By Nick Matysik|September 8, 2025

The blight of botrytis is an ongoing challenge that growers still struggle with from season to season. The problem of botrytis is made ever more taxing due to the buildup of fungicide resistance in plants, making previous solutions to the plant parasite less effective. So, what can growers do to stay up-to-date on the latest methods to combat this fungus and protect their crops?

American Floral Endowment‘s upcoming webinar, scheduled for Tuesday, Sept. 23, 2025, as part of its ongoing Grow Pro series, will cover the latest research on botrytis and new disease management practices, particularly concerning fungicide use. Topics of the webinar will include:

Guidelines for compatibility and rotation to create a sustainable botrytis management program.
How biorational products can share resistance pathways with synthetic fungicides.
Insights into new product evaluations.
The impact of application timing and environmental factors on product performance.
Which tank mixes lead to synergistic effects, and which combinations can reduce effectiveness.

The featured speaker for “Botrytis Update: Exploring Biorational Products and Tank Mixing” is Dr. Jim Faust, a Professor of Floriculture Physiology in the Plant and Environmental Sciences Department at Clemson University. Faust received his M.S. in Horticulture and then his Ph.D. in Horticulture at Michigan State University (MSU). At Clemson, he teaches courses on Hydroponics, Greenhouse Production, and Horticulture Discovery and Inquiry. Additionally, his research program focuses on botrytis management and the postharvest performance of cut flower crops.

Willing participants can register for the webinar directly through Zoom or by visiting the Grow Pro Webinar series page on the AFE website, where information on future webinars in the series can be found. Recordings of all past Grow Pro webinars can also be found on the AFE’s YouTube channel. Additionally, the full calendar schedule of the Grow Pro Webinar Series for 2025 can be viewed below: