Got blight?

Dear Grower, 

Requesting tomato and potato blight samples 

I am writing to request your help with a research project at Bangor University into tomato late-blight. I am collecting samples of late-blight from both tomato and potato from allotments and gardens throughout Great Britain and Ireland. If you experience a late-blight outbreak on your allotment site this year I would be grateful if you could send leaf samples from infected tomato and/or potato plants.

Sample collection is not difficult or time-consuming. If there are outdoor tomatoes (likely to get blight) on your site, and you are willing to take part, please reply to me with your postal address at: afpe57@bangor.ac.uk. 

I will send you a free pack containing sample bags, pre-paid envelopes and full instructions for sampling. Personally identifiable information will not be retained. Requesting a sample pack in no way enters you into any contract or other obligation. 

The project aims to: 

  • Develop new tomato cultivars with greater resistance to late-blight suitable for environmentally-friendly growing by gardeners in Great Britian and Ireland.
  • Learn more about the strains of late-blight that infect tomato and their relationship with potato stains. 

The project, supported by the European Social Fund, is a collaboration between Bangor University and the Sárvári Research Trust, a not-for-profit company which researches late-blight, and has developed the “Sárpo” range of blight-resistant potato cultivars (including the popular varieties Mira, Axona, Una, Blue Danube, and Kifli). 

Your help in this project will contribute to the understanding of one of our most serious plant diseases and the development of resistant tomato cultivars. 

Yours sincerely, 

James Stroud 

Bangor University/Sárvári Research Trust PhD Student

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