Genetic and Phenotypic Characterization of Botrytis Populations from Economic and Wild Host Plants in Iran

Grey mould disease, caused by various <i>Botrytis</i> species, poses a significant threat to important plants worldwide. This study aimed to characterize <i>Botrytis</i> populations on strawberry and roses, economically relevant host plants, and raspberry, used as a representative of wild plants, in Iran. A total of 389 isolates were collected and analyzed based on morphological features and haplotyping using molecular markers, transposable elements (<i>Boty</i> and <i>Flipper</i>), and fungicide response. Moreover, 60 isolates were used for phylogenetic analysis based on the <i>rpb2</i> gene, and 16 selected isolates from each clade were further characterized using the <i>g3pdh</i>, <i>hsp60</i>, and <i>nep2</i> genes. The results revealed the presence of three distinct species, <i>Botrytis cinerea</i>, <i>Botrytis sinoviticola</i>, and <i>Botrytis prunorum</i>, among the sampled isolates. Additionally, this study reports for the first time the presence of <i>B. sinoviticola</i> on strawberry and isolates belonging to <i>B. cinerea</i> group S in Iran. These findings provide insights into the diversity and composition of <i>Botrytis</i> populations on Iranian host plants.