Benefits and problems of fungicide control of <i>Botrytis cinerea</i> in vineyards of Champagne

Abstract

There are several agrochemicals to control Botrytis cinerea, the causal agent for gray mold in grapes, and new ones are being developed. The fungicides used to control Botrytis in vineyards of the Champagne are presented together with some of their deleterious effects on non-target species. Until recently, fungicides basically belonged to three groups: the carbamates, the benzimidazoles, and the cyclic imides. Treatments with these fungicides rapidly became inefficient because of the extreme variability observed within the pathogen. In the last 10 years, new chemicals such as pyrimethanil, fludioxonil, fluazinam, and fenhexamid, all from different chemical groups became available; until now Botrytis displayed no resistance to these chemicals in the Champagne. The problem of residues in wine and in the environment, including their deleterious effects on non-target organisms, as well as acute and sublethal toxicity of the fungicides are discussed. Solutions to limit environmental contamination are presented.