Using detached industrial hemp leaf inoculation assays to screen for varietal susceptibility and product efficacy on Botrytis cinerea

In greenhouse production, grey mould caused by Botrytis cinerea Pers. is one of the most widespread and damaging diseases affecting medicinal cannabis (MC). Fungicide options to control this disease are extremely limited due to the regulations surrounding fungicides and chemical residues as the product end users are medical patients, often with compromised immune systems. Screening for alternative disease control options, such as biological and organic products, can be time-consuming and costly. Here, we optimise and validate a detached leaf assay as a quick and non-destructive method to evaluate interactions between plants and pathogens, allowing the assessment of potential pathogens' infectivity and product efficacy. We tested eight industrial hemp varieties for susceptibility to B. cinerea infection. Using detached leaves from a susceptible variety, we screened a variety of chemical or organic products for efficacy in controlling the lesion development caused by B. cinerea. A consistent reduction in lesion growth was observed using treatments containing Tau-fluvalinate and Myclobutanil, as well as the softer chemical alternatives containing potassium salts. The performance of treatments was pH-dependent, emphasizing the importance of applying them at optimal pH levels to maximise their effectiveness. The detached leaf assay differentiated varietal susceptibility and was an effective method for screening treatment options for diseases caused by Botrytis. The results from the detached leaf assays gave comparable results to responses tested on whole plants.