The commercial seed, processing and table potato industries are at risk from Late blight. Which agricultural industries in Alberta might be affected by Late blight outbreaks? The commercial potato industry has expended a great deal of effort and cost in applying protective fungicides and maintaining quality seed, with some losses occurring. Since 2010, there have been reports of Late blight in potatoes and tomatoes in various regions across Alberta, with many urban or residential plantings and market garden crops damaged or destroyed and commercial potato crops also impacted. Major outbreaks occur occasionally in Alberta (the last one was in 1993). Late blight is found in most potato and vegetable growing regions of Canada and North America. Each year, Late blight reduces the yields of potatoes and tomatoes in the field and can cause major losses in potato tubers in storage. Late blight was responsible, in large part, for the Irish Potato Famine in the 1840's, which resulted in the death and mass emigration of millions of people. What is the historic and current/potential impact of Late blight

In general, in Alberta, Late blight occurs infrequently, but can have devastating impacts in the years when it reaches epidemic levels. Late blight is one of the most serious diseases of potatoes and tomatoes worldwide, resulting in significant yield and quality losses annually.

Late blight tomatoe