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Gray mold rot
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botrytis blight
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Also called:
gray mold blight or botrytis blight
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botrytis blight
botrytis blight Botrytis cinerea fungus on a strawberry fruit.

Gray mold rot

plant disease
Also known as: botrytis blight, gray mold blight, gray mould blight, grey mould blight(Show More)
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Britannica Editors
Encyclopaedia Britannica's editors oversee subject areas in which they have extensive knowledge, whether from years of experience gained by working on that content or via study for an advanced degree....
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Gray mold rot, disease of plants growing in humid areas that is caused by fungi in the genus Botrytis, usually B. cinerea. Most vegetables, fruits, flowers, and woody plants are susceptible.

The disease primarily affects flowers and buds, though infections on fruits, leaves, and stems can occur. Gray mold rot is characterized by tan to brown soft spots or blotches that become covered with a dusty mold and can cause seedlings, young shoots, and leaves to wither and collapse and buds, flowers, and fruits to become flecked and rotten.

Control involves the removal of infected parts. Proper cultivation, including spacing for ventilation, judicious fertilizing, and watering at the soil line, is helpful in reducing the chances of gray mold rot. Harvested fruits and vegetables should be stored as close to 0 °C (32 °F) as is practical and sprayed with a fungicide at least weekly in damp cool weather.

The Editors of Encyclopaedia Britannica This article was most recently revised and updated by Melissa Petruzzello.