PRESS RELEASE      

June 30, 2009

CONTACT:

Joan Allen

joan.allen@uconn.edu

Home and Garden Education Center

877.486.6271

or

Dawn Pettinelli

dawn.pettinelli@uconn.edu

Soil Nutrient Analysis Laboratory

860.486.4274

IS IT TOO LATE TO SAVE TOMATOES AND POTATOES FROM LATE BLIGHT?

Most years New England tomatoes and potatoes experience a touch of the disease known as late blight towards the end of the growing season. Joan Allen, pathologist at the University of Connecticut Plant Diagnostic Lab in Storrs has just confirmed the first case in Connecticut. Late blight is a devastating disease that can quickly kill tomato and potato plants. The source of the disease appears to be tomato seedlings imported from a southern grower and sold nationwide primarily by big box retail stores. Late blight spreads very rapidly by wind blown spores. Symptoms to look out for include large, irregularly shaped, dark spots on leaves and stems. Preventative applications of chemical fungicides labeled for late blight are generally most effective. Organic controls mainly consist of bagging plants at first sign of infection and discarding them off the property. Once plants are infected, there are no products that home gardeners can use to stop the spread of this disease. Tomato and potato growers are urged to monitor plants closely for infection. Image 1, Image 2 and Image 3 of late tomato blight. If you have questions or concerns about late blight or on other gardening topics call the UCONN Home & Garden Education Center (toll-free) at 877.486.6271. 

Click on link to send plant samples for diagnosis, fee $15.00

http://www.hort.uconn.edu/IPM/VEG/HTMS/BLTPOT.HTM

http://www.hort.uconn.edu/ipm/veg/htms/tomdis2.htm

http://vegetablemdonline.ppath.cornell.edu/factsheets/Potato_LateBlt.htm