
Project collaborators: Tomecek Agronomic Services, Amanda Tracey (OMAFRA), Sporometrics, Phytodata, and Genevieve Marchand (AAFC).įunding acknowledgement: Ontario Tomato Research Institute, Fresh Vegetable Growers of Ontario, and the Ontario Agri-Food Innovation Alliance. If you suspect late blight in your tomato crop, please reach out to Amanda Tracey ( 51) or Cheryl Trueman ( 51 圆3646) to confirm the diagnosis. The disease occurs worldwide where tomatoes and potatoes are grown. In four years of trials, we have seen reductions of 9 to 52 in. However, it was 1863 before deBary established beyond doubt that this organism, Phytophthora infestans, was the cause of late blight. Uncontrolled, early blight can completely defoliate tomato plants and cut short the harvest. disease protection to your tomato crop including early blight and septoria. This week, DNA of Phytophthora infestans spores, the organism that causes late blight, was detected at 1 of 8 sites for the July 15-18 sampling period.Ī summary of fungicides for late blight management is available here. The causal pathogen of late blight from potatoes was first described in 1845 by Montagne and from tomato in 1847 by Payen in France. Most tomatoes are grown in Ontario, BC and Quebec with only minor commercial. The plants may not die, but they will be weakened and will set fewer tomatoes than normal. We are comparing the Spornado and rotorod spore traps at eight sites in Kent County, along with the BliteCast forecasting model. Early blight can affect almost all parts of a tomato plant, including the leaves, stems, and fruits. If you have any late blight related questions or concerns, please contact me at or (269)425-0048 or MSU Plant & Pest Diagnostics at or (517)355-4536.By: Cheryl Trueman, Department of Plant Agriculture, Ridgetown Campus – University of GuelphĪs mentioned in a previous post, this is Year 1 of a three-year research project to assess the value of different spore traps and forecasting models to predict late blight risk for field tomatoes. It is known as the most devastating disease. late blight observations can be monitored at. Late blight of potatoes or tomatoes can be a devastating disease with dramatic and disastrous economic consequences. In other areas, tomato late blight was reported in Ottawa County in Eastern Ontario on July 26 ( ), in Cocke County, Tennessee on August 5, and in Haywood County, North Carolina on August 18. A 2-inch-thick layer of organic mulch, such as shredded wood mulch or weed-free grass clippings, will create a physical barrier between early blight spores in the soil and the tomato plant’s leaves. No other nearby states have reported late blight. Also, in the case of early blight, minimizing leaf-to-soil contact can prevent disease spread. If you grow tomatoes, you have almost certainly run afoul of the fungus that causes the disease known as early blight. Preventative foliar programs and diligent crop monitoring is strongly recommended. Late blight forecasting in Michigan is available through our website. The tomato (/ t m e t o / or / t m t o /) is the edible berry of the plant Solanum lycopersicum, commonly known as the tomato plant. The fungus produces roughly circular dark brown spots on stems and leaves at the base of a plant. Tomatoes: whole, halved vertically and halved horizontally. It is spread from fungal spores residing in the soil splashing up onto the plant’s lower leaves. Both detections were reported by conscientious crop consultants and immediate measures have been taken to reduce further spread.Ĭurrent late blight risk is medium in Michigan, however, some areas have experienced favorable conditions in the past several weeks due to more frequent and heavy rain events. Peter Krumhardt Early blight is first found on the lower leaves of the tomato plant. Isolate genotyping is in progress and additional information will follow as will an accompanying MSU Extension news article. Even if you're an expert at growing tomatoes, chances are you'll have encountered this devastating disease at some point.

Active sporulation was observed in both areas and infected fields have been chemically vine-killed. published OctoEvery year gardeners will desperately seek out a tomato blight treatment to help salvage their homegrown crop of tomatoes. We have confirmed two reports of potato late blight in two separate field areas of Montcalm County, Michigan detected September 6 and September 7. This may indicate that late blight spores have reached much of southern Ontario. Reports of late blight were also received from another location near Simcoe and one near Milton. A forecasting system for early blight on tomato was developed to identify periods when environmental conditions are favorable for early blight development and. September 8th, 2022 | Posted in: Crop Updates, News Yesterday (August 4), late blight was confirmed in tomatoes near Simcoe, Ontario and in potatoes in the Alliston area.
