Field Identification
A necrotrophic fungus that colonizes dead or senescing tissue and then spreads into healthy parts, producing fuzzy gray spore masses. Common on strawberries, grapes, tomatoes, and cut flowers during cool, humid weather.
Soft brown rot with gray-brown dusty sporulation; infected tissues may show concentric rings. Spreads rapidly in crowded, wet canopies.
How to Deal With It
Organic Control Methods
Reduce humidity with spacing, pruning, and morning irrigation; use drip; heat or vent greenhouses before nightfall.
Apply Ulocladium, Gliocladium, or Bacillus-based biological fungicides to flowers or fruit clusters where products are labeled.
Remove spent blossoms and infected fruit promptly, mulch berries off soil, and avoid bruising at harvest.
Berry clamshells or tunnels with good airflow; fans in high tunnels.
Bacillus subtilis, Streptomyces, or botanical extracts labeled for Botrytis; sulfur or potassium bicarbonate on some crops. Repeat before wet spells.
Let Nature Handle It
Natural Enemies
- Hyperparasitic Fungi
- Antagonistic Bacteria