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1. Late blight occurrence and LB severity by major production area in the country. What crops were affected (tomato, potato, others)? Disease sources (seed, cull piles, volunteer plants, soil)? 

Data for 2002²

A wet and warm climate in April, May and to some extent in June in the Po valley in northern Italy was very favorable for late blight on both potato and tomato. Since tomatoes were transplanted earlier in the season, both potato and tomato plants were found to be susceptible during the same period. Late blight symptoms occurred on potato and tomato on 16 May and 15 May, respectively. Late blight caused particular problems on tomato because of the critical weather conditions close to the harvest in mid-July. On potato 4–6 MISP [Main Infection and Sporulation Periods] infectious period were recorded compared with 8–10 on tomato. Most the P.infestans isolates from tomato-affected plants were recorded as A2. So far, no isolates were found resistant to phenylamides and strobilurines.

2. LB impact (foliar damage, yield losses, tuber rot occurrences)?  

Data for 2002²

No tuber blight was recorded in the Po Valley in northern Italy.

3. Fungicide use (amounts, types, etc.)?

Data for 2002²

In the Po Valley the first spray usually was carried out with metalaxyl or fluazinam when the plant canopies cover the row. Afterwards, the normal control strategy using cymoxanil and dimetomorph was applied. Overall, 5–8 sprays were carried out on potato and 6–10 on tomato to control the disease. Copperoxychloride was also used particularly at the end of the season.

4. Other LB control measures (resistant cultivars, forecast systems, none)?

The IPI [Infection Potential Index] model combined with the MISP [Main Infection and Sporulation Periods], Fry and IPI-4 DSS (decision support systems) for timing of subsequent sprays has given promising results (Bugiani et al, 2000, 1999, 1998).

5. LB control effectiveness (fungicide or host resistance failures)?  

6. Pathogen strains (mating type, fungicide resistance, virulence factors, etc)?  

The A2 mating type was detected in Phytophthora infestans isolates collected during 1996–1999 from potato and tomato in different parts of the country (n = 206) at 7.1% and 26.6%, respectively. 1.8% of potato and 5.3% of tomato isolates were found to be self-fertile (Cristinzio et al, 1999).

10% of isolates tested (n = 150) were resistant to metalaxyl at 200ppm, 79.5% were intermediate and 10.5% were sensitive (Cristinzio et al, 1999).

38 physiological races were identified among 60 tomato and potato isolates, most at low frequencies and 16 (42%) with five or more virulences. Three races were present in both hosts (Cristinzio et al, 1999, Cristinzio and Testa, 1999).

7. Disease risks and/or major needs?

8. Any publications on late blight in the country?  

Bugiani R, Govoni P and Cobelli L. 2000. Field evaluation of the combined use of IPI and different forecasting criteria for potato late blight. pp 266–275 in: Schepers H (ed), Proceedings of the Workshop on the European network for development of an Integrated Control Strategy of potato late blight, 29 September – 2 October 1999, Oostende, Belgium, PAV-Special Report no. 6. Applied Research for Arable Farming and Field Production of Vegetables, Lelystad, Netherlands.

Bugiani R. 1999. Availability and use of meteorological data for potato and tomato late blight warning in Emilia-Romagna (Italy). pp 129–137 in Schepers H and Bouma E (eds), Proceedings of the Workshop on the European network for development of an Integrated Control Strategy of potato late blight, 9–13 September 1998, Uppsala, Sweden, PAV-Report no. 5. Applied Research for Arable Farming and Field Production of Vegetables, Lelystad, Netherlands.

Bugiani R, Govoni P and Cobeli L. 1999. Possibility of a combined use of IPI and MISP forecasting models for late blight warnings. pp 258–270 in: Schepers H and Bouma E (eds), Proceedings of the Workshop on the European network for development of an Integrated Control Strategy of potato late blight, 9–13 September 1998, Uppsala, Sweden, PAV-Report no. 5. Applied Research for Arable Farming and Field Production of Vegetables, Lelystad, Netherlands.

Bugiani R, Govoni P and Cobeli L. 1998. First large scale application of IPI model for potato late blight prediction in the Po Valley. pp 188–199 in: Schepers H and Bouma E (eds), Proceedings of the Workshop on the European network for development of an Integrated Control Strategy of potato late blight, 24–27 September 1997, Carlow Ireland, PAV- Report no. 3. Applied Research for Arable Farming and Field Production of Vegetables, Lelystad, Netherlands.

Bugiani R, Govoni P and Cobeli L. 1997. Comparison of different prediction criteria for the first occurrence of potato late blight in Northern Italy. pp 69–78 in: Bouma E and Schepers H T A M (eds), Proceedings of the Workshop on the European network for development of an Integrated Control Strategy of potato late blight, 30 September – 3 October 1996, Lelystad, The Netherlands, PAV-Report no. 1. Applied Research for Arable Farming and Field Production of Vegetables, Lelystad, Netherlands.

Bugaini R and Govoni P. 1995. The integrated warning service for the prediction of tomato late blight in Emilla Romagna region (Italy): 5 years experience. pp 359 in: Dowley L J, Bannon E, Cooke L R, Keane T and O’Sullivan E (eds), Phytopthora infestans 150, Proceedings of EAPR-Pathology Section, September 1995 Dublin, Ireland. Boole Press, Ltd., Temple Bar in conjunction with Teagasc, Carlow. Ireland.

Cristinzio G and Testa A. 1999. Research on physiological races of Phytophthora infestans in Italy. pp 271–274 in: Schepers H and Bouma E (eds), Proceedings of the Workshop on the European network for development of an Integrated Control Strategy of potato late blight, 9–13 September 1998, Uppsala, Sweden, PAV-Report no. 5. Applied Research for Arable Farming and Field Production of Vegetables, Lelystad, Netherlands.

Cristinzio G, Testa A and De Luca. 1999. Status of Phytophthora infestans in Italy: mating type, race structure, metalaxyl-resistance. pp 497–498 in: Abstracts of conference papers, posters and demonstrations, 14^th Triennial Conference of the EAPR, 2–7 May 1999, Sorrento, Italy. Assessorato Agricoltura Regione Campania, Italy.

9. Is tuber blight an increasing problem?

Occassionally.

Comments, additions and corrections are very welcome. Please contact us at GILB(at)cgiar.org

[2] Schepers, H T A M. 2003. The development and control of Phytophthora infestans in Europe in 2002. pp 9–22 in: Westerdijk C E and Schepers H T A M (eds), Proceedings of the Seventh Workshop of an European Network for development of an Integrated Control Strategy of potato late blight, 2–6, October 2002 , Pozan, Poland, PPO-Special Report no. 9. Applied Plant Research BV, Wageningen, Netherlands. Information regarding the late blight epidemic in 2002 in Italy provided by R. Bugiani.