First report of gray mold on sweet basil caused by Botrytis cinerea in Turkey

Abstract

Sweet basil (Ocimum basilicum L.) is an aromatic plant in the family Lamiaceae. In August 2016, a disease was observed in sweet basil fields of Bolu, after the first cutting harvest, characterized by masses of gray-brownish spores on leaves and stems of the plants. Infected plant tissues were cut into small pieces, placed on potato dextrose agar after surface sterilization and incubated at 22 °C for 3 to 4 days. The identification of pathogen was carried out according to Ellis and Waller (1974) and the fungus determined as Botrytis cinerea based on morphological characteristics of conidia, conidiophores and cultural specifications.