The effect of temperature and water potential on the production of conidia by sclerotia of Botrytis squamosa

The rate of conidiogenic germination of Botrytis squamosa was highest at 16°C and the greatest numbers of conidia per sclerotium (up to 5 × 10⁴) were produced at temperatures of 5–10°C. At temperatures above 20°C, the percentage of sclerotia producing conidia declined rapidly. Decreasing water potential reduced the rate at which conidia were produced and also resulted in fewer conidia produced per sclerotium. However, conidia were produced at water potentials as low as −2 MPa, at which sclerotial germination was at least 60%. A simulation model that included effects of both temperature and water potential was developed from laboratory and field data obtained for conidial production in sclerotia exposed for periods of 1, 2, 3 or 4 weeks during an entire year. There was good agreement between conidiogenic germination predicted by the model and conidial production observed in onion plots artificially inoculated with sclerotia. Temperature and water potential were therefore considered to be the principal microclimatic factors affecting conidial production by B. squamosa. The role of sclerotia in the context of UK onion production is discussed.