Botrytis elliptica is a necrotrophic fungal pathogen which infects species of plants in the Lilium genus, causing the disease commonly known as Lily Gray Mold.

This may be derived from mycelium in overwintering sclerotia, which produce conidiophores to create conidia, the asexual spores of this fungus.

The conidia germinate, often penetrating the young leaf tissue of the lily, although the flowers, buds, or stem may also suffer from infection.

These ascospores infect Lilium species’ leaves as effectively as the conidia throughout the growing season, although mycelium are the primary inoculants of young lily shoots in the spring.

[6] Defense responses found in Lilium species are mediated by phytohormones involved in jasmonate signaling, increasing the transcription for defense-related proteins.

Because this mold requires water to spread to other plants, Botrytis can be greatly reduced with good drainage to the soil and caution to avoid overwatering.

Additionally, sanitation of plants is extremely important, such as deadheading dying flowers and removing infected leaves.