PAU cautions farmers against late blight attack on tomato, potato crops

Keeping in view the western disturbance, ongoing light-to-moderate rainfall and dense fog conditions over the past couple of days, Punjab Agricultural University (PAU) has advised the farmers not to use sprinklers to irrigate their potato and tomato crops to avoid late blight infection.

The symptoms of late blight appear as small, green water-soaked spots on leaves. During cool and moist weather, these lesions expand rapidly into large, dark brown or black lesions, often appearing greasy. “A pale green-yellow border often surrounds these lesions. The entire crop may be damaged if timely measures are not taken,” PAU experts said.

The experts have also urged the farmers to closely monitor their fields and take necessary measures to protect their crops, orchards and vegetables from potential damage due to frost, which is expected to be more likely in the coming days.

Sharing tips for late blight management, they said irrigation using overhead sprinklers should be avoided and fields irrigated during the day so that the foliage becomes dry before night.

They have suggested spraying potato and tomato crops with fungicide Indofil M-45 (500-700 g per acre). “If the disease has already appeared or the risk is high, spray potato crop with Curzate M-8, Melody Duo 66.75 WP, Ridomil Gold or Sectin 60 WG (700 g per acre), Revus 250 SC (250 ml per acre) or Equation Pro (200 ml per acre) after every 10 days,” they added.