Penn State Ag Sciences Newsline -- July 7, 2009
Serious tomato disease threatens home gardens, commercial crops (:53)
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Suggested Intro:
THE DISEASE THAT CAUSED THE IRISH POTATO FAMINE NOW THREATENS PENNSYLVANIA'S HOME-GARDENING EXPLOSION, AND A PLANT-DISEASE EXPERT IN PENN STATE'S COLLEGE OF AGRICULTURAL SCIENCES SAYS GARDENERS CAN HELP FARMERS TO PROTECT THE STATE'S TOMATO CROPS. MORE FROM GARY ABDULLAH:
Story:
(:21) THE DISEASE IS CALLED "LATE BLIGHT," AND IT'S COMMON IN THE NORTHEAST. A VERY COOL, WET SPRING HAS BROUGHT THE DISEASE TO THE REGION WITH A VENGEANCE, AND A TRAGIC MISTAKE HAS LARGE RETAIL STORES FROM OHIO TO MAINE UNWITTINGLY SELLING BLIGHT-INFECTED TOMATO PLANTS. PENN STATE PLANT PATHOLOGIST BETH GUGINO SAYS AMATEUR GARDENERS CAN HELP COMMERCIAL FARMERS SAVE MILLIONS IN CROP DAMAGE BY KEEPING A CLOSE WATCH ON THEIR PRODUCE:
Gugino Actuality:
(:19) "IT'S A VERY DEVASTATING DISEASE -- IT CAN MOVE VERY QUICKLY AND DESTROY YOUR PLANTS. IT IS OF PARTICULAR CONCERN BECAUSE THE DISEASE CAN SPREAD FOR MILES. THE SPORES GET PICKED UP IN THE AIR AND GET BLOWN AROUND THE STATE. IF YOU GET IT IN YOUR HOME GARDEN, YOU COULD POTENTIALLY BE SPREADING IT TO COMMERCIAL FIELDS AROUND YOU."(:13) IF YOU THINK THERE'S BLIGHT IN YOUR BACKYARD, GUGINO SAYS, YOU CAN CONFIRM IT BY GETTING A SAMPLE TO YOUR COUNTY PENN STATE COOPERATIVE EXTENSION OFFICE. UNFORTUNATELY, THERE'S NO EASY HOME REMEDY FOR GARDENERS -- THE INFECTED PLANT SHOULD BE DESTROYED. FROM PENN STATE, I'M GARY ABDULLAH.
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