State issues late-blight advisory

Area gardeners asked to be vigilant against potato virus

March 19, 2006

JOEL DAVIDSON/Frontiersman reporter

MAT-SU - In an effort to avoid another outbreak of late blight disease in Mat-Su potato fields, the state Division of Agriculture has asked home gardeners and commercial growers to observe the late blight quarantines during the spring planting season.

Late last summer, a series of blight infestations hit many Mat-Su fields, destroying one farmer's entire crop and taking considerable portions of others.

Late blight is a wind-borne water mold that has been discovered three times in Alaska since 1995. The disease first infects potato plant leaves and then quickly works its way into the actual potatoes (tubers) and turns them into a slimy mush. Late blight was responsible for the 19th century potato famine in Ireland.

It is not known where the late blight came from last summer, but Division of Agriculture director Larry DeVilbiss said Friday that it likely started from a virus strain carried by infected tomatoes.

DeVilbiss said growers can help the state avoid another outbreak by using Alaska-grown certified seed potatoes, buying tomato plants grown in Alaska from seed, and not planting potatoes purchased for consumption.

&#8220By educating themselves and planting responsibly, Alaska growers can prevent the spread of this disease,” he stated in a press release.

Statewide, potatoes are a $3.5 million industry for Alaska, with about 7,700 tons produced on about 840 acres. DeVilbiss said three quarters of those potatoes are grown in the Mat-Su area.

One concern of the state is the export market value of Alaska seed potatoes. Up until last summer, Alaska potatoes had a fairly strong reputation for being blight free, which meant other states and countries around the world were interested in using Alaska potatoes to combat blight infestations.

DeVilbiss said he believes vigilance in monitoring future crops will help maintain Alaska's reputation for clean potatoes.

&#8220I don't think this will have a drastic effect as long as we can demonstrate this is a disease that is still coming from the outside,” he said, while adding that right now it is still unknown as to where the most recent outbreak originated.

More information about late blight is available online at www.uaf.edu/coop-ext/publications or by calling (907) 474-5211. A list of seed potato producers can be found online at www.dnr.stat.ak.us/ag/index.htm or by calling 745-7200.

Contact Joel Davidson at 352-2266 or joel.davidson@frontiersman.com.