Wisconsin Ag Connection - Growers, Gardeners Urged to be Looking for Late Blight

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Growers, Gardeners Urged to be Looking for Late Blight
Wisconsin Ag Connection - 08/07/2009

Gardeners and commercial growers are urged to scout their tomato and potato plants for signs and symptoms late blight, a potentially devastating plant disease that has been found in Wisconsin.

According to university plant pathologists and state agriculture officials, late blight--which is caused by the pathogen Phytophthora infestans--was identified on a tomato plant that had been submitted to the University of Wisconsin-Madison's Plant Disease Diagnostic Clinic. The sample came from a Dane County home garden. Since then, two additional cases have been identified in southern Wisconsin, one a home garden and one a commercial vegetable farm.

Late blight was the biological cause of the Irish potato famine over 150 years ago. The disease can affect potatoes, tomatoes and eggplant, and is spread by spores carried by rain, wind, people, machinery and wildlife.

"Gardeners and growers need to know what late blight looks like and take proper steps to protect your plants from the disease," said Amanda Gevens, UW-Madison plant pathologist.

Gevens says growers and gardeners should check tomato and potato plants closely for symptoms at least twice weekly. If you suspect that you have late blight, contact your local county Extension office.

The Wisconsin Department of Agriculture is tracking the extent of the problem in the state.

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