Botrytis squamosa

Botrytis squamosa
"Botrytis squamosa" on an onion plant
Botrytis squamosa on an onion plant
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Fungi
Division: Ascomycota
Class: Leotiomycetes
Order: Helotiales
Family: Sclerotiniaceae
Genus: Botrytis
Species:
B. squamosa
Binomial name
Botrytis squamosa
J.C.Walker

Botrytis squamosa (teleomorph: Botryotinia squamosa) is a fungus that causes leaf blight on onion (often termed ‘blast’) that is distinctly characterized by the two stages – leaf spotting followed by blighting.[1] The pathogen is an ascomycete that belongs to the family Sclerotiniaceae in the order Helotiales.[2] The lesions start out as whitish streaks and take on a yellow tinge as they mature. They cause yield losses up to 30%.[3] This fungus is endemic to the USA and has also been reported in Europe, Asia, and Australia.[1] Typical management of this disease includes chemical fungicides with significant efforts being made to establish a means of biological control.[3]

  1. ^ a b "Pathogen of the Month - Botrytis squamosa" (PDF). The Australasian Plant Pathology Society.
  2. ^ Korf, R.P. (1973). Taxonomy, physiology, and pathogenicity: A guide to the literature. pp. 249–319.
  3. ^ a b Carisse, Odile (2011). "Management of Botrytis Leaf Blight of Onion: The Quebec experience of 20 years of continual improvement". Plant Disease. 95 (5): 504–514. doi:10.1094/PDIS-11-10-0797. PMID 30731952.