Gray mold of Christmas bells (Sandersonia aurantiaca) and fairy bells (Disporum pullum) occurred on Hachijo Island of Tokyo Metropolis in 2011 and 2012 respectively. These pathogens isolated from the diseased plants were identified as Botrytis cinerea Persoon based on morphological characteristics as well as molecular analyses of the rDNA-ITS region. Inoculation tests confirmed that the fungus was a causal agent of the diseases. These are the first reports of the diseases in Japan.
