Blueberry Botrytis spp.

Moldy blueberries in a measuring cup

Fresh fruit easily becomes moldy in a refrigerator. Samples were taken from the surface of the blue berries.  A heavy growth of Botrytis spp. was noted through out the sample. The white particles in the measuring cup are whey protein.

Botrytis means grape diseases. It is the combination of the Greek botrys = grape and the Latin itis = disease. (ref: Wikipedia) By coincidence, the common asexual form of this organism shown below grows on grapes and the conidia (asexual spores) also look like microscopic grapes.

Photomicrograph of Botrytis spp. cluster stained with lacto fuchsin - 400x 

Second photomicrograph of Botrytis spp. stained with lacto fuchsin - 400x 

How Botritis spp. infects a plant - 2 min