Botrytis cinerea, under specific environmental conditions, causes 'noble rot', a beneficial infection that dramatically alters the chemical composition of grapes, resulting in distinctive sweet wines. The infection requires humid conditions followed by dry, sunny periods to prevent grey rot, a less desirable form of Botrytis. Noble rot concentrates sugars within the grape. Botrytis perforates the grape skin, causing water to evaporate, thus concentrating the sugars (primarily glucose and fructose) along with acids and other compounds. The infection also increases glycerol production, due to the osmotic stress on the grapes. Glycerol contrib....
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