Potato: Late blight

Biology

Late blight of potato is caused by a fungus which also causes disease on tomato, eggplant, and other members of the potato family (Solanaceae). Gray-green, water-soaked spots appear on leaves and stems. These quickly enlarge into dark blotches which may be surrounded by a pale green margin. During moist weather, a sparse, whitish fungal growth may be seen on the underside of leaf lesions. Tubers may be infected either by spores washed into the soil or during harvest. Infected tubers show areas of somewhat metallic brown or purple discoloration followed by a brownish dry or wet rot. Disease development is favored by cool, rainy weather and may be more severe under sprinkler irrigation. The fungus overwinters primarily on potato tubers and is spread by wind.

Management Options

Use Integrated Pest Management (IPM) for successful plant problem management.

Non-chemical Management

Select non-chemical management options as your first choice!

• Plant only healthy, disease-free seedlings.
• Do not plant potatoes and tomatoes in close proximity.
• Remove infected plants or plant parts when symptoms are noticed to reduce spread of disease.
• Diseased plant materials should be destroyed or buried deeply (two feet or more).
• Remove plant debris from the garden in the fall. Do not compost diseased materials.
• Space plantings to provide good air circulation.
• Avoid overhead watering.
• Do not dig tubers from infected vines until at least two weeks after vines are completely dead (no green stems remaining). Avoid injuring tubers.

Chemical Management

IMPORTANT: Visit Home and Garden Fact Sheets for more information on using pesticides.

• Apply at first sign of late blight.
• Make repeat applications according to label directions.
• Copper products offer limited control and their use alone to control late blight is not recommended.
• Copper fungicide applications can be alternated with other fungicide applications.

Approved Pesticides

Listed below are examples of pesticides that are legal in Washington. Always read and follow all label directions.

• Bonide Copper Fungicide Spray or Dust RTU [Organic]
  Active ingredient: basic copper sulfate [EPA registration number: 4-58]
• Bonide Fung-onil Multi-Purpose Fungicide Concentrate
  Active ingredient: chlorothalonil [EPA registration number: 60063-9-4]
• Bonide Liquid Copper Fungicide Concentrate/Organic Gardening
  Active ingredient: copper octanoate [EPA registration number: 67702-2-4]
• Monterey Liqui-Cop Copper Fungicidal Garden Spray
  Active ingredient: copper-ammonia complex [EPA registration number: 54705-7]
• Soap-Shield Flowable Liquid Copper Fungicide [Organic]
  Active ingredient: copper octanoate [EPA registration number: 67702-2-56872]
• GardenTech Daconil Fungicide Concentrate
  Active ingredient: chlorothalonil [EPA registration number: 67572-82-71004]
• Organocide Plant Doctor
  Active ingredient: mono- and di-potassium salts of phosphorous acid [EPA registration number: 71962-1-70179]
• Ortho Max Garden Disease Control Concentrate
  Active ingredient: chlorothalonil [EPA registration number: 239-2522]
• This list may not include all products registered for this use.

Additional Images