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Tomato early blight5/17/2023 The receptacles that hold the spores (sporangia) can survive for up to an hour in dry, sunny conditions – and much longer in wet ones. These spores can travel for miles in the air, and under ideal conditions, they can infect plants on a broad scale. Wet, humid conditions caused by rainfall, dew, fog, or sprinkler irrigation are conducive to the spread of this pathogen. Once the plants have become infected, the organism can produce millions of spores in the right conditions. Follow manufacturer instructions, wear protective clothing during application and always wash fruit before consumption.This disease can easily be introduced into gardens via infected tomato or potato plants. Copper fungicides can be effective in combating blight, but must be carefully applied. Blight spreads quickly, and in some cases destroying entire plants may be necessary to protect adjacent crops. If blight is detected on shoots or leaves, remove them from the plant and dispose of diseased foliage off-site. Catching blight early can be effective in preventing spread between plants. Using drip irrigation or soaker hoses to water the soil around the base of plants helps keep foliage dry, cutting back on the spread of blight. If blight becomes a problem, surrounding mulch may harbor spores and should be disposed of off-site (do not compost infected plants or mulch). Applying mulch around the base of tomato plants cuts back on the spread of spores that cause blight. Give plants plenty of room to provide good airflow and use stakes or cages to keep vines off the ground. Plant tomatoes in a different part of the garden each year and avoid planting near potatoes, in which late blight may overwinter.Īllow space between plants. When purchasing plants, look for blight-resistant varieties and always purchase from reputable sources. Some tomato plants have been developed to reduce susceptibility to blight issues. If tomato blight has reared its ugly head in the garden this year, a change in maintenance and tactics to limit the spread of the disease may prevent drastic plant losses. An undetected infection can quickly put an end to summer tomato and potato crops, but steps can be taken to rescue at-risk plants. The best offense is a good defense when contending with tomato blight. For tomato and potato growers, blight can be devastating.Īs temperatures rise and rainfall increases, risk of infection is high in home gardens. Although the diseases are caused by different spores, the end result is the same. Late blight displays blue-gray spots, browning and dropped leaves and slick brown spots on fruit. The former striking early to mid-season and the latter mid-to-late, blights are the bane of many home growers, rapidly attacking tomato plants and abruptly halting production as it spreads quickly through the garden.Įarly blight is characterized by concentric rings on lower leaves, which eventually yellow and drop. The two best known varieties are early blight, caused by Alternaria solani fungal spores and late blight, a result of Phytophthora infestans spores (" Phytophthora" aptly translates to mean “plant destroyer”). Blight spreads quickly, causing leaves to discolor, rot and collapse. Tomato blight refers to a family of diseases caused by fungus-like organisms that spread through potato and tomato foliage, particularly during wet weather.
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