The Genus Botrytis and Botrytiscinerea species: Pathogenic, morphological and epidemiological characteristics

Species of the genus Botrytis occur wherever their hosts are grown, ranging from cold areas of Alaska to warm and dry areas in Israel. They have a necrotrophic life style which is often associated with phenology of the host plant. The genus comprises 22 species, most of which have a narrow host range. Polifagous species Botritys cinerea, a causal agent of grey mould disease, is the most important and the most extensively studied representative of this genus. More than 350 papers related to all aspects of the research of this necrotrophic pathogen are published each year. In this paper up-to-date knowledge about pathogenic, morphological and epidemic characteristics of the genus Botrytis and, particularly, species B. cinerea are summarized. Symptoms caused by B. cinerea on various plant species and various plant parts are shown. Morphological and genetic variability of the species is described. The possible mechanisms of variability, as well as the attempts to divide the species into Group I (B. ?pseudocinerea?) and Group II (B. cinerea ?sensu-stricto?) are pointed out.