Mild weather has prevailed across the area over the past two weeks. Heavy dew accompanied by dense morning fog has been widespread particularly in the last week. Overall, pest and disease activity has been rather quiet. Reports of late blight on potato have been received from a number of locations around Immokalee. All samples diagnosed to date have been US 8, a fairly aggressive strain that infects predominately potato.
Incidence is sporadic and infection levels are low to moderate.
High innoculum loads observed on samples examined along with heavy dews and foggy conditions and rainy, windy conditions predicted over the weekend may create optimum conditions for the epidemic spread of this disease. Growers are advised to monitor this situation closely and apply protectant materials in advance of unfavorable weather conditions. Some of the new fungicides with kick-back activity have given good results. Tomato yellow leaf curl virus is being reported widely across the area. In most instances the disease is being seen occurring on older plantings on shoots at the tops of the plants.