Garden Retailers and Late Blight
Wednesday, 17 February 2010 12:48
Late Blight caused by Phytophthora infestans – a very destructive and very infectious disease killed tomato and potato plants in gardens and on commercial farms throughout the eastern U.S. during 2009. Late blight occurs at some locations in the Northeast each year, however in 2009 infected plants were distributed through large local retail stores throughout the region (Ohio to Maine) during June, and outbreaks were reported over this entire region by early July. Never before had such an extensive distribution of infected plants occurred, especially so early in the season. This, combined with the cool, wet growing season and the exceptionally contagious nature of the disease during cool, rainy, windy weather all contributed to a disastrous year for farmers.
Garden retailers can help prevent the spread of late blight in gardens and on farms this growing season and provide customers with the facts about this disease.
Grow your own transplants from seed or purchase locally grown plants
Late blight is not seedborne in tomatoes (however, it is tuber-borne in potato), so tomato plants started from seed locally would be free of the disease. Growing your own transplants from seed or purchasing from a reputable local grower will ensure a healthy start to the season for your customers and local farms.
Provide disease-resistant or tolerant varieties
Tomatoes: Disease-resistant or tolerant varieties of tomatoes exist, however seed is in limited supply this year. ‘Mountain Magic’, ‘Plum Regal’, and ‘Legend’ are three varieties with resistance or tolerance to late blight. Note that the variety ‘Legend’ is the only late-blight resistant variety for which seed is readily available this year. In addition to late blight, each year tomatoes become infected with early blight and Septoria leaf spot, which look very similar. If possible, also provide tomato plant varieties that are resistant or tolerant to early blight for your customers, such as the varieties ‘Mountain Fresh’, ‘Mountain Supreme’, and ‘Plum Dandy’ and others.
Potatoes: Purchase certified, disease-free seed potato from a reputable source, and ask your supplier about their source of seed and if it was inspected in the field for late blight. Seed potato from the northeast are less likely to carry the disease.
Inspect transplants for signs of disease
If you purchase plants to sell, inspect all transplants for stem, petiole cankers or leaf blight as long as plants are on the shelf. Teach your staff what to look for, using the web-links below. If you suspect a late blight infection, use your Plant Diagnostic Lab to confirm if late blight is present.
Know the FACTS for Staff and Customers
Train employees and provide information to your home gardening customers.
* Potatoes that freeze or fully decompose will not carry the pathogen over winter.
* Tomatoes will not carry late blight over the winter, because freezing kills the whole plant.
* Tomato seed, even from fruit that was infected with late blight, will not carry the pathogen, so no need to worry about the tomatoes left behind in the garden or compost pile. Certain perennial weeds can become infected with late blight, but none of their above-ground tissues live through the winter.
* Late blight will not survive on tomato stakes and cages.
* The biggest threat for overwintered disease in New England is on potatoes. In the spring, advise home gardeners to inspect last year’s potato plot and any compost or cull piles for volunteer potato plants that might come up. If they find potato plants, pull them out and put them in the trash or destroy them. If tubers were infected and survive, then the late blight could grow upward from the tuber, infecting the stem and producing spores when weather conditions are favorable. These spores could then disperse to other tomato and potato plants.
* During the growing season, pay attention to pest alerts to learn about whether late blight has been observed in New England, and what actions you need to advise to customers. Pest alerts will be updated on the UMass Extension Vegetable Program Website, www.umassvegetable.org
Photos: Symptoms on stems, leaves and fruit (Cornell)
Photos, FAQ, Fact Sheets (Cornell)
Tina Smith, University of Massachusetts
