Post by concerned on Sept 12, 2009 9:46:17 GMT -5
"Late Blight, caused by Phytophthora infestans, is a disease of potato and tomato. It was the cause of the Irish Potato Famine which killed 1.5 million people and forced another 1.5 million to emigrate between 1845-1850. The Irish relied heavily on potato in their diet during this time, some list adult males eating as much as 15 pounds of potatoes a day. The population of Ireland was 8.5 million in 1840 prior to the blight but decreased to 4 million by 1900 due to the effects of the famine. Late Blight was chemically controlled for some time but new strains are now occurring that are showing chemical resistance. " Cornel Univ.
"A highly contagious fungus that destroys tomato plants has quickly spread to nearly every state in the Northeast and the mid-Atlantic, and the weather over the next week may determine whether the outbreak abates or whether tomato crops are ruined, according to federal and state agriculture officials. "
William Fry, a professor of plant pathology at Cornell, said, “I’ve never seen this on such a wide scale.”
"A strain of the fungus was responsible for the Irish potato famine of the mid-19th century. The current outbreak is believed to have spread from plants in garden stores to backyard gardens and commercial fields. If it continues, there could be widespread destruction of tomato crops, especially organic ones, and higher prices at the market. "http://www.nytimes.com/2009/07/18/nyregion/18tomatoes.html?_r=2
This time, however, scientists are working to get a step ahead: they just finished sequencing the genome of this pesky organism.
The new study, done by MIT and Harvard scientists and just published in Nature, shows why the late blight is so hard to handle. Three-quarters of its genome is filled with repetitive DNA that appears able to evolve with great haste, outwitting our attempts to control it via chemical treatments or genetically-resistant crops.
The late blight genome is so big that the researchers call it “animal-sized.” By contrast, it contains three or four times as many genes and some of its relatives, like other plant diseases.
Fact Sheet on Late Blight and if the potato's and tomatoes are safe to eat.http://plantclinic.cornell.edu/FactSheets/lateblight/late.htm
Are the unaffected parts of blighted tomatoes and potatoes safe to eat?
Yes the unaffected parts probably are safe to eat. Parts with symptoms likely do not pose a health risk when consumed either, but they do not look appetizing and will have an off flavor. However, no published scientific study on this specific issue was found to confirm this conclusion, therefore consumers need to make their own decision on food safety.
For home canning, only disease-free, preferably vine-ripened, firm tomatoes are recommended in the USDA Complete Guide to Home Canning because fungal pathogens may raise tissue pH and thereby allow growth of potentially harmful microorganisms.
"A highly contagious fungus that destroys tomato plants has quickly spread to nearly every state in the Northeast and the mid-Atlantic, and the weather over the next week may determine whether the outbreak abates or whether tomato crops are ruined, according to federal and state agriculture officials. "
William Fry, a professor of plant pathology at Cornell, said, “I’ve never seen this on such a wide scale.”
"A strain of the fungus was responsible for the Irish potato famine of the mid-19th century. The current outbreak is believed to have spread from plants in garden stores to backyard gardens and commercial fields. If it continues, there could be widespread destruction of tomato crops, especially organic ones, and higher prices at the market. "http://www.nytimes.com/2009/07/18/nyregion/18tomatoes.html?_r=2
This time, however, scientists are working to get a step ahead: they just finished sequencing the genome of this pesky organism.
The new study, done by MIT and Harvard scientists and just published in Nature, shows why the late blight is so hard to handle. Three-quarters of its genome is filled with repetitive DNA that appears able to evolve with great haste, outwitting our attempts to control it via chemical treatments or genetically-resistant crops.
The late blight genome is so big that the researchers call it “animal-sized.” By contrast, it contains three or four times as many genes and some of its relatives, like other plant diseases.
Fact Sheet on Late Blight and if the potato's and tomatoes are safe to eat.http://plantclinic.cornell.edu/FactSheets/lateblight/late.htm
Are the unaffected parts of blighted tomatoes and potatoes safe to eat?
Yes the unaffected parts probably are safe to eat. Parts with symptoms likely do not pose a health risk when consumed either, but they do not look appetizing and will have an off flavor. However, no published scientific study on this specific issue was found to confirm this conclusion, therefore consumers need to make their own decision on food safety.
For home canning, only disease-free, preferably vine-ripened, firm tomatoes are recommended in the USDA Complete Guide to Home Canning because fungal pathogens may raise tissue pH and thereby allow growth of potentially harmful microorganisms.
