Managing Botrytis Conditions Now Can Reduce Chances of Severe Problems (Video)

Posted by Brian Sparks|May 18, 2021

Botrytis is one of the most common diseases greenhouse growers of all crops will encounter. One of the reasons for this, according to Mark Brotherton, Portfolio Leader for Turf and Ornamental Products at SePRO Corp., is that it thrives in the same growing conditions that growers aim for when they want to produce high-quality plants.

There are a number of reasons why botrytis can be such a tough challenge, Brotherton says, including:

It has a wide host range, including annuals, perennials, woody crops, and vegetables. In particular, botrytis favors crops with dense canopies.
It will infect all stages of plant growth, from new growth to mature plants.
It can present itself in different forms, from blights to cankers to fruit rots.
It spreads easily through air current or splashing water, which means it can quickly move from one plant to another.
It is quick to develop and reproduce and can quickly take out a crop if you don’t stay on top of it.
Because of this rapid growth, it is more likely to develop resistance to treatment.

Learn more in the video below.