What Is Tomato Blight?

Tomato blight refers to a group of fungal diseases caused by two distinct species: Alternaria solani and Phytophthora infestans. These fungi are obligate parasites, meaning they cannot survive outside of their hosts. Early blight (also known as “Alternaria Blight”) is caused by A. solani, while late blight (also known as “Phytophthora Blight”) is caused by P. infestans. Both fungi thrive in wet conditions with temperatures between 65-75°F (18-24°C).

How Does Tomato Blight Spread?

Early blight primarily spreads through spores that are blown into a garden or field from other infected areas. Alternatively, late blight spreads rapidly through airborne spore movement during high humidity levels and temperatures above 70°F (21°C). Late blight can also spread through contaminated soil on tools or clippings taken from infected areas, so it’s important to practice proper sanitation when working with tomatoes in any capacity.

Identifying Symptoms of Tomato Blight

The symptoms of tomato blight depend on which type it is; early blight typically presents itself as circular dark spots on both sides of tomato leaves accompanied by yellowing surrounding foliage, while late blight looks like large greasy spots with brownish centers surrounded by a halo area with white moldy growth around them. Additionally, late blight can form necrotic lesions on stems and affects fruit directly, causing rot and decay along with wilting shoots and stems.

Controlling and Preventing Tomato Blight

Fortunately there are strategies you can use to help manage the spread or infection of tomato blight in your garden or field as well as prevent further outbreaks:

• Proper cultural practices such as rotating crops and avoiding overhead irrigation during dusk when the risk of infection is highest are key to effectively controlling early and late blights in tomatoes where chemical fertilizers have been used in the past. 

• Spray your tomato plants weekly with EM-1® microbial inoculant has been proven effective in suppressing blight.

• Monitor tomato plants regularly for signs of early or late blights; if caught early enough their damage can be minimized

• Keep weeds away from tomato plants – weed competition attracts moisture that encourages fungal growth

• Rotate crops with unrelated species every four years; this helps avoid reinfection from previous seasons

• Disinfect all tools and materials used when harvesting tomatoes

• Don’t replant tomatoes close together - allow adequate spacing between plants for air circulation

• Remove affected plant material quickly before spreading further

With these practices in place you will reduce the chances for infection from spores carried by wind currents into your area as well as limit reinfection from previous seasons . Utilizing these steps along with proper cultural practices such as regular foliar spraying with a beneficial microbial solution and keeping weeds away from tomato plants will ensure successful control over tomato blights outbreaks in your garden or field .

Finally, one of the most effective tools for tomato blight prevention is the use of beneficial microbes. These beneficial microbes act as a natural defense against infection by competing with and suppressing the growth of bad bacteria in the soil that can lead to tomato blight. They also help to increase nutrient availability and promote beneficial microbial activity that aids tomato plants in their development. It’s important to include beneficial microbes when prepping your tomato patch for planting.

In summary, tomato blight can be a devastating disease; however, by following proper cultural practices, and maximizing biological controls through beneficial microbe application you will be well on your way to avoiding tomato blight and ensuring fruitful harvests season after season!

Happy tomato growing!