--------------------------------
UPDATE August 5, 2009: The Wisconsin Department of Agriculture, Trade & Consumer Protection confirms that late blight on tomato has appeared in Dane and Rock counties, the first cases of the disease in the state in six years. Full article: LATE BLIGHT ALERT
--------------------------------
Gardeners are being warned to destroy any Solanaceae plants (tomato, potato, eggplant) suspected of suffering from "late blight" disease, especially those purchased from big box stores.
The disease, associated with the Irish Potato Famine of the 1840's, is caused by the Phytophthora infestans fungus. While not harmful to humans, it is extremely contagious and deadly to plants.
Books:
- Phytophthora infestans: The cause of late blight of potato
- Resistance to phytophthora infestans in the potato
- Diseases, pests and disorders of potatoes: a color handbook
- Potato health management
- Phytophthora: identifying species by morphology and DNA fingerprints
- Illustrated glossary of Phytophthora / Glossário ilustrado de Phytophthora: técnicas especiais para o estudo de oomicetos
- Phytophthora: Symposium of the British Mycological Society, the British Society for Plant Pathology, and the Society of Irish Plant Pathologists held at Trinity College, Dublin, September 1989
- Proceedings of the IInd International Symposium on Tomato Diseases: Kusadasi -Turkey, October 8-12, 2007
- Proceedings of the IIIrd International Late Blight Conference: Beijing, China, April 3-6, 2008
UW-Madison dissertations & theses:
- Biological properties of Phytophthora infestans isolates from Wisconsin
- Characterization of RB and identification of additional genes involved in RB-mediated potato late blight resistance
- Genetic analysis of R9 conditioning late-blight resistance in potato (Solanum tuberosum L.)
- Late blight resistance linkages in a novel cross of the wild potato species Solanum paucissectum (series Piurana)
- Characterization of late blight resistance and unilateral incompatibility in diploid (1EBN) solanum species
- Characterization of late blight resistance and unilateral incompatibility in diploid (1EBN) solanum species
UW-Madison patent:
UW Extension Report:
More information:- Plant Pathology Research Guide
- Tomato Fruit Disorders (UW Extension)
- Tomato Diseases Powerpoint (UW Extension)
- Potato Diseases Powerpoint (UW Extension)
- Plant disease hits eastern US veggies early, hard (Associated Press)
