Blightline August 9, 2013
Late blight was identified in a potato field in Sherburne County, Minnesota. The late blight was found in the variety Russet Burbank on the edge of the field near a tree line. The field is being aggressively treated with Curzate, Revus and Gavel fungicides to prevent further spread. The genotype of the isolate is unknown at present. The field scout that found the late blight aware of the favorable late blight conditions of cool weather and long wet periods near the tree line. This is exactly the place where fields should be scouted, and illustrates the necessity of field scouting even if severity values are low. The late blight severity values in most locations continue to accumulate in the past two days as a result of our cool weather, morning dews and sporadic showers.