Late Blight – The Sequel
It's baaack … Connecticut Agricultural Experiment Station (CAES)recently issued the following:
It's baaack … Connecticut Agricultural Experiment Station (CAES)recently issued the following:
Interested in digging deeper into the world of fungi and other tiny non-plant, non-animal organisms, check out the book by Steven L. Stephenson, a research professor of biological sciences at the University of Arkansas. In The Kingdom Fungi: The Biology of Mushrooms, Molds, and Lichens (published by Timber Press), Stephenson explains the purpose, forms, and roles of these commonly misunderstood life forms. Gardeners know fungi do more than adorn a fresh salad or top a pizza, but how many of us really understand the true extent fungi play in our lives. Stephenson's author profile notes he has studied fungi and slime mold on six continents – sounds like he's a real fun-gi (guy) – sorry, couldn't resist.
August 11, 2009. Late blight continues to rear its ugly head in Connecticut farms and gardens, according to a recent report in the Norwich Bulletin. Because of the high risk of this windborne fungus spreading from location to location, I check my tomato plants daily. The Connecticut Agricultural Experiment Station's Department of Plant Pathology and Ecology posted images of CT grown tomatoes with late blight. For images of all types of tomato disease, visit Cornell University's Vegetable MD Online.
The July 24, 2009 Hartford Courant report confirms late blight in 6 of 8 counties in Connecticut – New London and Middlesex have, so far, been spared. According to Joan Allen, pathologist at the University of Connecticut Plant Diagnostic Lab, here are the key points for home gardeners to remember:
Since my original late blight post (July 6, 2009 after listening to a web seminar conducted by Cornell University), I've seen many updates regarding the spread of this highly contagious fungus. The most recent, Outbreak of Fungus Threatens Tomato Crop, in the New York Times, highlights conditions in a hard hit region in New York state. Similar articles have run in The Boston Globe and The Hartford Courant, and on local newscasts (There's a Fungus Among Us).