Pruning and destroying all dead or diseased canes in the spring will reduce the initial fungus population. During the growing season, all diseased leaves should be destroyed. A preventive spray program can include chemicals listed in table 1 . Botrytis Blight is caused by the fungus Botrytis cinerea . The disease causes flower buds to droop and remain closed.
Buds turn brown and decay.
Sometimes partially opened buds are attacked, and an entire flower may be covered by gray fungus. A smooth, slightly sunken, grayish-black lesion may develop just below the flower head. The bud is destroyed. It frequently hangs over at or near the lesion. The fungus may also infect stub ends of stems from which flowers have been cut.