botrytis

2 9.3

A mold that infects grapes and can make them sweet for dessert wine

noun
/bəˈtraɪtɪs/

Specialized

: botrytis

Botrytis can cause a disease known as gray mold, which affects many types of plants and crops.
botrytis cinerea

Examples

Caused by Botrytis cinerea L., it's a common disease that is costly to greenhouse producers.

Academic text (2000)
Gray-mold disease, which on grapes is known as Botrytis bunch rot, affects most vegetable and fruit crops as well as many shrubs, trees, flowers, and weeds.

Academic text (2006)
In viticulture, allowing botrytis to develop can result in a sweeter wine due to the concentration of sugars.
The winemaker welcomed the presence of botrytis on the grapes, as it is essential for creating dessert wines.

Compounds

Brassica oleracea botrytis

Specialized

1 7.0

A plant with a large white head of small flower buds eaten as a vegetable

Surface Forms

botrytis singular

botryties plural

Etymology

The word botrytis comes from the Greek root botrys, which means 'bunch' or 'cluster', the same idea as the English word 'bunch' for a group of grapes. So botrytis is the mold that grows on grape bunches and, in the right conditions, can cause the 'noble rot' used to make very sweet wines.