Eco-friendly methods to control infection of Botrytis cinerea during propagation of grapevines

Grey mould (Botrytis cinerea Pers.) is a pathogenic fungus which causes damage to the production of grapevine nursery plantmaterials especially on the stored canes or on graftings during the callusing period. The conditions, increased temperature and humidity, areideal for the pathogen during the pre-forcing stage and in the storage Botrytis cinerea can easily infect the outbursting buds as large amountsof grapevine canes are stored in a relatively small place. The fungicide-based management is general in the prevention of gray rot infection butthe palette of authorised chemical compounds is narrowed year by year due to the regulations of the European Union. Our aim is to developan eco-friendly method which combines the use of natural materials with techniques used in organic farming. Effect of the ultraviolet-c lighton the Botrytis cinerea was studied. The development characteristics of the pathogen were examined under daylight and dark conditions andexperiments were set up with cow’s milk and acetic acid. UV-C light destroyed the developed conidia, however, the radiation stimulates thedevelopment of immature propagules. Larger quantities of conidiophores and conidia were formed in daylight compared to culture in thedark, while different conditions did not signifi cantly change the mycelial growth characteristics. The developed bacteria prevented the spreadof pathogen mycelia during the test with cow’s milk in Petri dishes, although the smooth development of propagules that occurred did notchange the vitality of the fungal colony. Furthermore the growth of Botrytis cinerea fungus mycelia was strongly inhibited by acetic acid