Genetic Diversity of Some Tunisian Botrytis cinerea Isolates Using Molecular Markers

Abstract

The genetic diversity of Botrytis cinerea in Tunisia was studied using molecular markers, and the level of
resistance to the fungicide fenhexamid was shown. Isolates from different plants (grape, tomato, cucumber, onion,
strawberry, gerbera and rose) and different parts of the country were analysed in order to determine whether the two
groups, transposa and vacuma, that were detected in French vineyards, are also present in Tunisia. A combined PCR
and Dot Blot method was developed to identify the transposable elements Boty and Flipper that distinguish between
these two B. cinerea groups. Both the transposa and vacuma groups, and isolates containing the transposable element
Boty, were found in Tunisia. Moreover, analysis of the Bc-hch locus by PCR and restriction enzyme digestion
identified only the B. cinerea group corresponding to one allelic type. Finally, by using the level of resistance shown
by B. cinerea to the fungicide fenhexamid as a marker, it was confirmed that this was the only group of B. cinerea in
the Tunisian population.