FORECAST DISCUSSION: Wednesday, July 7: *** Disease Update *** Blue Mold has been reported in Connecticut. Jim LaMondia has confirmed blue mold discovered in shade tobacco in Hartford County, near the town of East Windsor. The infection and the associated sporulation are light at present. This source is being added to the forecasts. Also added to the forecasts is a site at Mount Sterling, Kentucky. This will better represent the scattered disease activity currently existing in Kentucky. Please consult our 1999 county disease map to view all the counties reporting blue mold!
*** The southern Appalachian Mountains have the most favorable weather Wednesday and Thursday. *** Growers in the central and southern mountains of NC are at HIGH RISK on Wednesday. There is Moderate Risk for extreme southeast KY, northeast TN, and extreme southwest VA. Showers and thunderstorms ahead of an approaching cold front also have growers in south-central TN and northern AL at Moderate Risk on Wednesday. Growers in the Carolinas will be getting some rain but should be at Low Risk. This is due to spore death from solar exposure before the showers and thunderstorms arrive. The remaining growers will also be at Low Risk on Wednesday. On Thursday, conditions will be unfavorable for transport or deposition near all the source regions except for the central NC mountains. There is Moderate Risk for those mountains growers; all others will be at Low Risk on Thursday. TK
Blue Mold Active in the Plant Bed and Greenhouse (click on small image for larger image)
What should one look for?
Seriously Threatening Sources: Grapevine, NC
HIGH RISK areas: Central and southern mountains of NC
*** NEW FEATURE ***
County Map of New and Existing Outbreaks, 1999
(Red = New, 1 to 7 days; Blue = Active, > 7 days; Green = Old)
Current Sources:
Previous Sources:
San Antonio de los Banos, Cuba
Papantla, Veracruz, Mexico
Tepic, Nayarit, Mexico
Corpus Christi, Texas
Tifton, Georgia
***** NOTE: These forecasts/outlooks only apply to disease development from airborne transport of spores!!! We do not have the capability to ascertain blue mold development by other means, such as transplanting of infected seedlings, nor will we attempt to do so. Please consult the Extension Service personnel in your area if you have concerns about these matters! *****
This service is provided by the North Carolina State University departments of Plant Pathology and Marine, Earth, and Atmospheric Sciences.
Web page last updated by Thomas Keever on 7 July 1999.
