Bob Mulrooney, Extension Plant Pathologist; bobmul@udel.edu
Late blight Advisory
This is the first report for 2010 in Weekly Crop Update. If you would like a FAX or email report please call 302-831-4865, or email bobmul@udel.edu and request it.
We are using the E-WEATHER SERVICE from SkyBit, Inc. as we have in the past. The service determines specific requested weather parameters (temperature, relative humidity and rainfall) based on calculations of data from the nearest National Weather Service stations. This weather data is used in the WISDOM software program for predicting late blight and early blight and making spray recommendations. Our location this year is:
Location: Art and Keith Wicks Farm, Rt 9, Little Creek, Kent County
Greenrow: May 6
Planting was delayed due to the wet weather early this spring so we are about a week behind last year when comparing greenrow on early planted potatoes. Disease severity values have been accumulating very slowly this year especially compared to last season. The threat of late blight from seed infection is low, but there was some in Maine last season. Be vigilant anyway, given this recent weather pattern. The first late blight fungicide application is recommended once 18 Disease Severity Values (DSVs) accumulate from green row. Green row occurred approximately on May 6, 2010. Please be vigilant and keep a look out for suspect infections on young plants coming from infected seed pieces! Growers opting not to use the forecast system should put the first late blight fungicide application on when the plants are 6 inches tall, and repeat every 7 days. There are numerous fungicides now labeled for late blight control; however, use of mancozeb (Manzate, Penncozeb, or Dithane) is still a very effective early season protective fungicide to use.
| Date | DSV | Total DSV | Spray Recommendation |
| 5/1 – 5/10 | 0 | 0 | none |
| 5/12 | 3 | 3 | none |