Identification of a Universal Marker for Detecting Possible Mutation in Botrytis cinerea Isolates Associated with Virulence

Abstract

Botrytis cinerea sporadically infects plants in Mediterranean climates and contributes to a significant crop loss every year. Diseases caused by B. cinerea can affect many crops and are of particular concern to strawberry growers in California, which is the major state for fresh strawberry production in the United States. This study looks at genetic mutations, and the subsequent phenotypical changes, of several strains of B. cinerea obtained from plant tissues. It was found that strains with four nucleotide insertions were more virulent than their wild type counterparts. Strains with single nucleotide polymorphisms had conidia smaller or similar in size to the wild type strains and exhibited similar virulent properties as the wild type. We also observed identical mutations of fungal samples obtained from different plant tissues from Asia.