Late Blight Found In Eastern States

In late June, late blight was found on potatoes on Long Island, NY. The disease also was found on potatoes in Virginia and Delaware.

Meg McGrath, an associate professor in the Department of Plant Pathology and Plant-Mircrobe Biology at Cornell University, mentioned in a blog on the University of Wisconsin’s website that the infected fields on Long Island are located on the South Fork where long periods of morning fog make conditions even more favorable for late blight than elsewhere on Long Island. “One grower commented that during the recent rainy period there was one week without sun,” she said. “All fields examined were in close proximity.” Click here for more information from the University of Wisconsin’s Wisconsin Crop Manager newsletter.

In the May issue of American Vegetable Grower, McGrath discusses tactics to combat late blight.to read the article.

In Virginia and Delaware, two isolated cases of late blight have been confirmed on potato. According to a vegetable pathologist at Virginia Tech, recommendations for potato and tomato growers on the Eastern Shore of Virginia are to apply late blight specific fungicides.

According to the North Dakota State University Potato Blightline, late blight has not been reported in North Dakota, Minnesota, or Manitoba. Severity values are nearing 15 in many locations in the eastern half of North Dakota. Growers should apply the first fungicide when late blight severity values reach 15, just prior to row closure, or if late blight is found in their area, whichever occurs first, according to Potato Blightline. Click here for the full report. 

Sources: Amanda Gevens, Wisconsin Crop Manager
North Dakota State University Potato Blightline