Persistence of Botrytis cinerea in its vector Drosophila melanogaster

Conidia of Botrytis cinerea, a pathogen of grape that causes bunch rot, were carried externally on the cuticle of the ''fruit fly'' Drosophila melanogaster and also might be carried internally through the digestive tract. Conidia germinated in the insect crop and developed into mycelium. Under some conditions, development of microsclerotia, which are fungal survival structures the flies can carry their entire life, may occur. Drosophila must be considered a plurimodal vector of B. cinerea, supporting nonpersistent, semipersistent, and possibly persistent transmission of B. cinerea.