Changes in pH and the Production of Organic Acids During Colonization of Tomato Petioles by Botrytis cinerea

After inoculation of petiole stumps of tomato plants with a tomato isolate of B. cinerea, a transition zone between water-soaked and apparently healthy tissue became clearly visible. Hyphal colonization occurred up to approximately 2 mm beyond this zone. In the colonized tissue the pH values were lower than in the healthy tissue. In the region with most of the tips of the advancing hyphae, however, pH values were slightly, but consistently, higher. In the colonized tissue concentrations of oxalic, citric and succinic acid were higher than in the tissue of healthy, non-inoculated petioles. In vitro this isolate of B. cinerea produced citric, malic and succinic acid. Oxalic acid, however, could not be detected. In media enriched, with citric or malic acid, mycelial production was higher than in media without this enrichment.