Studies onBotrytis cinerea in tomatoes influence of methods of deleafing on the occurrence of stem lesions

Abstract

Deleafing is a normal procedure in tomato crops and subsequent infection of the leaf scars byBotrytis cinerea frequently gives rise to stem lesions. Where deleafing is done by breaking off the petiole close to the stem, a cambium forms and the leaf scar is sealed after about seven days. Two to three days after deleafing, only a thin surface layer of dried cells is visible but at that time the leaf scar is unlikely to become infected by conidia of the fungus. When deleafing is done by cutting the petiole about 5 cm from the stem, abscission of the stumps occurs after about three weeks. When the petiole stump is inoculated with conidia ofB. cinerea, abscission occurs after about eight days. In neither case is abscission complete. In old, but still green leaves, an abscission layer gradually develops at the petiole base, so deleafing by cutting the petioles of old leaves might be a promising method of avoiding stem infection byB. cinerea.