ChileanJAR

A research was carried out to study and cultural and biological characteristics of Botrytis cinereawith the objective to find degrees ofvariability among the fungus-isolates obtained from different localities. B. cinerea was isolated from five plant species of economic importance in the region: blackberries (Rubus constrictus Lef. et M.), blueberries (Vaccinium corymbosum L.), eucalyptus (Eucalyptus globulus L.), raspberries (Rubus idaeus L.) and strawberries (Fragaria x ananassa D.). Sampleswere collected in 21 localities, from Loncoche (39º S in the IX Region to Ancud (42º S) in the X Region. The strains biological characteristics were in vitro compared in relation to: conidía size sclerotia dry matter and virulence and cultural characteristics such as color, mycelium development capacity, maturity time and number of sclerotia. Statistical comparisons were carried out among isolates obtained from different localities. Results showed statistically significant differences for all the characteristics studied and also for daily growth values. It was not possible to find a statiscally significant relation between parasite and locality. The only character that díd not show variability among localities of the evaluated strains of B. cinerea was sclerotium dry matter. Among biological characteristics the virulence test made on apple pieces showed a very scarce variability, only small differences were observed in the B. cinerea strains evaluated. Nevertheless, significant differences were observed in the sporulation capacity of all isolates. It was relevant that all Cayumapu specimens did not sporulate in vitro, and showed the formation of white mycelium.