Welcome to the VigiMildew application, an application dedicated to identifying the first observations of late blight on potatoes and tomatoes.

Why monitor late blight?

Late blight is one of the main potato and tomato in the world. It is responsible for significant crop losses (an unprotected sensitive crop can be completely destroyed in a few days if climatic conditions favor the parasite), and considerable economic costs (crop losses and cost of phytosanitary protection). A recent study estimates that potato late blight costs nearly a billion euros annually in Europe alone, and more than five times that amount worldwide.

The same parasite, called Phytophthora infestans , attacks potato and tomato. The different strains can therefore be transmitted from one plant to another, which means monitoring the two cultures at the same time.

The fight against downy mildew can mobilize different means: application of pesticides, but also use of resistant varieties and prophylaxis (elimination of sources of primary inoculum, such as piles of waste and regrowth; use of certified healthy plan). This is why infection surveillance and vigilance are crucial for disease control without (or with very little) phytosanitary products.

Goals

Mobilizing  as  many  players as possible , from amateur gardeners to official bodies, in order to federate a observatory of primary infections of tomato and potato late blight is a way of better understanding the dynamics of this disease on these two cultures concerned.

Today digital technologies facilitate the extension of surveillance networks and expand the areas and environments covered.

Anticipating the spread of downy mildew will make it possible to more effectively mobilize sustainable management strategies for these crops in order to drastically reduce the use of chemical control.