Shield Your Tomato Crop: Smart Farming Tips to Combat Late Blight

At ACSEN Agriscience we strive to achieve our purpose "More profit per acre, for more and more farmers, year after year”. In this edition of The Vital Insight, we explore Late Blight, a destructive disease threatening tomato cultivation, and share actionable strategies to safeguard your crops.? ? ?

Tomato: A Crop of Nutritional and Economic Importance?

Tomatoes (Lycopersicon esculentum L.) are among the most widely cultivated and economically significant vegetable crops. Globally, over 161.7 million metric tons of tomatoes are produced annually, contributing $59 billion to the economy. In India, during 2022–2023, 20.6 million tons were harvested across 0.86 million hectares. Beyond their fresh use, tomatoes are processed into soups, sauces, juices, and powders. Rich in ascorbic acid, vitamin A, lycopene, and minerals, tomatoes offer immense nutritional value and health benefits, including antioxidant and anti-cancer properties.?

The Threat of Late Blight?

Late blight, caused by Phytophthora infestans, poses a serious challenge in regions with cool, moist, and humid climates. The disease impacts not only yield and quality but also the livelihoods of tomato growers. This pathogen, infamous for causing the Irish Potato Famine, continues to wreak havoc on Solanaceous crops like tomatoes, potatoes, and nightshade.?

Key Facts About Late Blight?

Symptoms:?

• Water-soaked spots on leaves that grow into pale green to black lesions.?
• White, fuzzy growth under leaves during wet weather.?
• Irregular, brownish-green fruit blotches with a greasy surface.?

Spread and Infection:?

• Spreads via sporangia or mycelial fragments carried by wind or rain.?
• Infects through direct germination or via motile zoospores.?

Climate Conditions:?

• Ideal temperatures: 15–25°C with nearly 100% relative humidity.?
• Cool, wet weather and dense planting increase vulnerability.?

Integrated Disease Management (IDM) Practices?

Resistant Varieties:?

• Use hybrids with resistance genes like Ph-2 and Ph-3.?

Agronomic Practices:?

• Plant early maturing varieties.?
• Stake tomato plants to keep stems off the?
• Practice wide plant spacing for better air circulation.?
• Rotate crops and avoid repeated planting of tomatoes or potatoes in the same area.?

Crop Sanitation:?

• Inspect regularly for symptoms and promptly remove infected plants.?
• Intercrop with non-solanaceous crops to disrupt disease spread.?

Irrigation Management:?

• Water early in the day at the base of plants to avoid wet foliage.?

Chemical Control:?

• Spray fungicides like Ridomil (2 gm/L), Aliette + Bavistin (2 gm each/L), or Kavach (2–3 gm/L) to manage outbreaks effectively.?

Our R&D teams are actively working on developing tomato varieties with resistance to Late Blight, along with other valuable traits. Watch out for our next series of Vital Insight content for more insights and practical solutions to enhance your crop productivity and resilience. Together, let us innovate, inspire, and nourish the world!?

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