Botrytis cinerea is the causal agent of post-harvest grey mould rot on green bean (Phaseolus vulgaris) in Korea

Abstract

In May 2016, an occurrence of grey mould rots was observed on harvested green bean pods after 3–5 days of storage in refrigerator in Gangneung, Gangwon Province, South Korea. The symptoms observed were water-soaked grey lesions with white to greyish mycelium on infected pods. The fungus was isolated from infected pods and cultured on potato dextrose agar (PDA). For identification of the fungus, we examined morphology, sequenced a portion of the rDNA and three nuclear protein coding genes and confirmed its pathogenicity according to Koch’s postulates. The results of morphological examinations, pathogenicity tests and DNA revealed that the causal agent was Botrytis cinerea. This confirms post-harvest grey mould rot of green bean in Korea.