P-116 - Alternative Non-Pesticide Approaches for Managing Gray Mold in Roses

Gray mold, caused by Botrytis cinerea, is the most significant disease affecting roses worldwide, causing annual losses estimated to be at least 30% of total production. This pathogen affects roses both in the field and during postharvest stages, reducing the marketability of cut flowers. With the increasing emphasis on sustainable agriculture, reducing chemical pesticide use has become essential. Furthermore, numerous studies have reported that B. cinerea has developed resistance to multiple fungicides, highlighting the need for alternative control strategies. Therefore, this study aimed to evaluate the efficacy of non-chemical treatments, specifically hypochlorous acid (HOCl) and sodium dichloroisocyanurate (NaDCC), in controlling gray mold on roses during the postharvest stage. In this study, inoculated rose petals were treated with different concentrations of these compounds, and disease severity was assessed using a 0-to-5 scale. The results demonstrated that treatment with 150 ppm HOCl and 200 ppm NaDCC significantly suppressed gray mold development on rose petals during the postharvest stage. The mean disease index (MDI) for HOCl treatment was 1.9, while NaDCC treatment resulted in an MDI of 1.5, both significantly lower than the control group (MDI = 4.2). Gray mold caused by B. cinerea is a well-documented issue in floriculture and horticulture. These findings contribute to the expanding body of research on sustainable disease management, demonstrating the potential of HOCl and NaDCC as effective alternatives to conventional fungicides.