SPECIALTY CROP REPORT – Tobacco Edition, July 27, 2009 

Blue Mold Update
New Crops Workshop

Blue Mold Update

Tobacco Blue Mold was reported from several fields totalling 60 acres in east central Kentucky on July 18.  Based on symptoms, it was estimated the disease first appeared between July 4^th and 10^th.  The most recent forecast maps from the Blue Mold Forecast Center at North Carolina State University indicate that current weather events passing over US Blue Mold sources will not be directed towards Ontario’s tobacco growing region.  

As of July 27, 2009, there have been no reports of Blue Mold in Ontario tobacco, however growers should still be monitoring their fields for signs of the disease.  Remember that Blue Mold is favoured by cool, wet weather conditions, and that it can take 5-7 days after infection for symptoms to show on the leaf.  Any suspected cases should be reported to the OMAFRA office in Simcoe at 519-426-4434 or 519-426-3823.  

Mature tobacco plants are more tolerant to this disease than younger plants. Once tobacco is topped, the leaves begin to mature and thicken, making Blue Mold spores less able to penetrate the leaf tissue.  Harvesting of the lower leaves as the leaves mature will improve air circulation and make conditions less favourable for infection.  Aliette WDG fungicide is available for the preventative control of Blue Mold in the field.  It has a pre-harvest interval of 5 days.  Quadris FL is also registered for Blue Mold, however its pre-harvest interval is 21 days.  

More information on this disease can be found in OMAFRA Publication 298 – Flue-Cured Tobacco Production Recommendations or in the CTRF publication “Flue-Cured Tobacco Best Management Practices – Blue Mold” (September, 2004).  

The following OMAFRA staff at the Simcoe office can be contacted if further information is needed:

Melanie Filotas
Specialty Crops Integrated Pest Management Specialist
melanie.filotas@ontario.ca
519-426-4434

Jim Todd
Transition Crop Specialist
jim.todd@ontario.ca
519-426-3823

New Crops Workshop

A workshop on production of non-traditional crops will be held at the OMAFRA-Simcoe Research Station on Tuesday, August 18, 2009.  Participants will have the chance to view demonstration plots of a number of non-traditional and specialty crops, including bitter melon, kohlrabi, luffa, celtuce, gobo (Japanese Burdock), tomatillo, specialty gourds, non-traditional varieties of eggplant, peppers and basil, among others.  Additionally, there will be presentations on pest management and sprayer technology for non-traditional crops, cover crops, and current nitrogen research being conducted by the University of Guelph.  Enjoy refreshments, meet with other producers and take the opportunity to talk with OMAFRA specialists and University of Guelph staff.  

To register, please call 519-426-7127, ext. 323 by August 14^th.