LATE BLIGHT IN TOMATOES HOW TO
LATE BLIGHT IN TOMATOES PLUS

Life cycle, signs and symptoms Infected potato Life cycle on potato

The name Phytophthora infestans was coined in 1876 by the German mycologist Heinrich Anton de Bary (1831–1888). The species name infestans is the present participle of the Latin verb infestare, meaning : 'attacking, destroying', from which we get the word 'to infest'.

LATE BLIGHT IN TOMATOES PLUS

The genus name Phytophthora comes from the Greek φυτό–( phyto), meaning : 'plant' – plus the Greek φθορά ( phthora), meaning : 'decay, ruin, perish'. Lesion growth rates are typically optimal at a slightly warmer temperature range of 20 to 24 ☌ (68 to 75 ☏). The pathogen is favored by moist, cool environments: sporulation is optimal at 12–18 ☌ (54–64 ☏) in water-saturated or nearly saturated environments, and zoospore production is favored at temperatures below 15 ☌ (59 ☏). The organism can also infect some other members of the Solanaceae. Late blight was a major culprit in the 1840s European, the 1845–1852 Irish, and the 1846 Highland potato famines. Early blight, caused by Alternaria solani, is also often called 'potato blight'.

Applying chemical treatments: To find approved fungicides, consult the Cornell Integrated Crop and Pest Management Guidelines for Vegetable Crops available at infestans is an oomycete or water mold, a fungus-like microorganism that causes the serious potato and tomato disease known as late blight or potato blight.

If symptoms are noticed in localized areas, take swift action to remove those plants and their surrounding healthy neighbors via disking or flaming. Therefore, be sure to pay particular attention to these vulnerable areas.

Remaining vigilant/Scouting: Initial symptoms will most likely be observed in low-lying areas of the field, areas with continual shade, or along hedgerows.

Forecasting: Frequently check for late blight outbreaks throughout the U.S.

Rotate away from solanaceous crops for three years. The pathogen will survive in tubers or potentially in tomato fruit that are in a cull pile and can be a source of inoculum the next year.

Sanitary practice: Properly dispose of infected tubers by burying them if possible.

Planting resistant varieties: There are potato and tomato varieties that are resistant to late blight, however most are not.Take preemptive measures to limit the spread of late blight: A potato field damaged by late blight Infected tubers Management Unfortunately, the pathogen is wind dispersed, making it difficult to quarantine infected field. Potato tubers can become infected when rain washes zoospores into the soil. Symptoms become evident 3-6 days after infection of the leaf. wet leaf surfaces and temperatures between 60-70ᵒ F) the sporangia will release swimming spores (zoospores) that invade the host plant. However, upon favorable cooler conditions (i.e. The spores can remain viable for several hours depending upon environmental conditions, and in warmer and in warmer weather can germinate to directly infect the plant. high humidity/rainfall) thousands of sporangia develop, which then are aerially dispersed several miles. Under ideal environmental conditions (i.e. Sporangia release zoospores that infect leaves How the pathogen spreads Characteristic lesion on tomato plant Sporangia on sporangiophores. leaf) in a damp zip-lock bag for a day to see if white sporulation appears. Therefore, to diagnose late blight under dry conditions, place the infected sample (i.e.

Both plants display similar symptoms which consist of dark lesions surrounded by white sporulation or ‘fuzz’ under humid/damp conditions but may appear just as dry dark lesions under dry conditions. Phytophthora infestans infections produce characteristic symptoms that can form on the leaves and/or stems of tomato and potato plants. infestans Lesions on tomato stems with white sporangia Infected tomato fruits Tomato leaves with characteristic brown lesions Symptoms However, once an outbreak occurs the pathogen can rapidly infect surrounding fields. These asexual spores cannot overwinter without plant tissue, so the main sources of inoculum are contaminated plant debris/tubers that were improperly disposed, volunteer plants growing from infected tubers, transplants, and compost piles. The pathogen reproduces asexually in the United States. Late blight is caused by the water mold Phytophthora infestans.

LATE BLIGHT IN TOMATOES HOW TO

Due to its ability to travel long distances and destroy entire fields, growers need to know how to diagnose and manage the disease. It causes fruit rot and plant death on tomatoes and potatoes. Late blight is a notorious disease that is often associated with the Irish Potato Famine, yet even today it remains a destructive disease.

Late blight in tomatoes