The conidial surface of Botrytis cinerea and several other Botrytis species

Surfaces of conidia of Botrytis cinerea Pers: Fr. and several other Botrytis species were studied using scanning electron microscopy and transmission electron microscopy with carbon–platinum replicas. The surface of dry conidia of B. cinerea was rough with numerous short (200–250 nm) protuberances. Upon hydration and redrying these protuberances disappeared. The surfaces of conidia of other Botrytis species were similar to the surface of B. cinerea. The basket-weave pattern of hydrophobin rodlets present on the surfaces of spores of many fungal species was not observed on conidia of any of the Botrytis species. Rodlets were seen when the methods employed in this study were used to examine conidia of Aspergillus nidulans (Eidam) Winter, Neurospora crassa Shear et Dodge, or Penicillium camembertii Thom:, fungal species known to possess rodlets. Key words: hydrophobicity, conidial surface, Botryotinia, electron microscopy.