Leaf mould continues to be a significant issue for many growers across the country, particularly given the weather conditions we have experienced over the summer.

I have previously discussed how challenging leaf mould can be to control in articles such as this one. Meanwhile, Francis Ferrada, as part of his Master’s degree at Massey University, has been investigating the science behind the difficulties growers are facing.

Over the past 12 months, Francis has been analysing leaf mould samples collected from tomato plants. He is comparing the sequencing of current pathogen samples with earlier genome sequencing data to determine whether the disease has changed. This research will help the industry better understand whether existing leaf mould resistance in tomato varieties is breaking down, or whether the challenges growers are experiencing are due to other factors.

Francis is seeking additional plant samples to strengthen the validity of this trial. If you suspect leaf mould is present in your greenhouse, please contact him at:
francisco.ferradasotelo.1@uni.massey.ac.nz

To help with identification, please refer to the leaf mould factsheet here: