Abstract

Evidence for symptomless infections of flowers and fruit by Botrytis cinerea is reviewed and their role in post-harvest grey mould is discussed.
Histological studies showed that conidia can germinate in stigmatic fluid, alone or in the presence of pollen, and the resultant hyphae can colonise the transmitting tissues of the styles and the young carpels. Some genotypes tolerate such infection better than others, and it may be possible to breed genotypes to block the infection pathways used by this versatile pathogen.