Botrytis - the Fungus, the Pathogen and its Management in Agricultural Systems

The fungal genus Botrytis is the focus of intensive scientific research worldwide. The complex interactions between this pathogen and the plants it infects and the economic importance of the diseases caused by Botrytis (principally grey mould) on more than 1400 species of cultivated plants pre- and post-harvest, render this pathogen of particular interest to farmers, advisers, students and researchers in many fields worldwide. This 20-chapter book is a comprehensive treatise covering the rapidly developing science of Botrytis and reflecting the major developments in studies of this fungus. It will serve as a source of general information for specialists in agriculture and horticulture, and also for students and scientists interested in the biology of this fascinating, multifaceted phytopathogenic fungal species.

This book is the product of intensive work by 41 authors, all of whom are leading scientists from various scientific disciplines studying Botrytis as a fungus and as a pathogen. The authors of this book have amassed state-of-the art knowledge on diverse topics, including Botrytis epidemiology, disease management, biological and chemical control and aspects of the plant-pathogen interactome, including virulence factors and defence processes, signalling cascades, the oxidative burst and general biological aspects, such as vegetative incompatibility, mycoviruses, and the revised Botrytis species concept. This book also provides reviews of the genetic and post-genomic analyses, such as transcriptomics and proteomics, used to study Botrytis biology and pathogenicity.