Botrytis grey mould of lentils

 

 

Symptoms initially appear as small, discrete, cream coloured lesions on the lower leaves and generally become more evident when the crop reaches canopy closure and a humid environment forms. The initial lesions can grow and infect whole leaflets, flowers and pods causing them to wilt and fall to the ground. BGM does not form small black fruiting bodies (pycnidia) within the lesions like ascochyta does. 

If humid conditions exist for at least four days, the disease can spread from the leaves to the lower stems. The disease girdles the stems, causing the plants to ripen prematurely before the stems become covered in a furry, grey mould which eventually results in stem and possibly plant death. Pods can also become covered in mould and the seeds within fail to develop properly and are commonly shrivelled and discoloured. The spore masses from the mould are easily spread onto susceptible plant material. If conditions remain wet during spring, patches of brown dying plants are evident in the paddock.

BGM can survive on infected seed, infected trash, on alternate hosts or as sclerotia in the soil. If infected seed is sown, the seedlings also become infected resulting in poor crop establishment. Spores from trash are easily spread by wind and under humid conditions, the disease can spread quickly.

Refer to the links below for more detailed information on Botrytis cinerea in other crops.

 

 

There are a number of preventative practices aimed at reducing the incidence and severity of the disease. These include;

Aviator^® Xpro^® is registered for the control of botrytis grey mould in lentils. It is most effective when applied prior to an infection event i.e. rain, and should be applied as part of a preventative spray program which incorporates other fungicides from different chemical groups.