News Release

FREDERICTON (GNB) – The Department of Agriculture, Aquaculture and Fisheries is advising people who bought tomato plants at garden centers to check them for Late Blight, caused by the fungus Phytophthora infestans. The fungus is not dangerous to humans, however it can impact tomato and potato crops.

The fungus has the ability to produce millions of spores during wet weather conditions. These spores can infect the plants in gardens after traveling with the wind from as far away as 80 km. Because this disease is so devastating to crops, it is important that gardeners recognize Late Blight and control it before their garden becomes a source of spores that can infect nearby gardens and commercial fields.  Potatoes and tomatoes are particularly susceptible to late blight. More information is available online.