Late blight was a factor in the Irish potato famine in the 1850’s, during which millions of people in Ireland starved or were forced to emigrate. Other plants that late blight may infect include petunia, nightshades, and tomatillos. Late blight is a plant disease that mainly attacks potatoes and tomatoes, although it can sometimes be found on other crops, weeds and ornamentals in the same botanical family (Solanaceae). Plant resistant varieties, avoid sources of inoculum, check your plants often and apply fungicides when needed. Late blight can be managed if preventive measures are taken.
Spores produced on infected potatoes and tomatoes can travel through the air, and cause new infections. The organism is well known for its ability to produce billions of spores from infected plants under wet weather conditions. Tomatoes look sick? Leaves turning brown? Plants dying? Potatoes too? It could be late blight. Share on Facebook Share on Twitter Share on LinkedIn Share on Pinterest> Late Blight
