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July 10: Cornell telephone press conference on 'late blight' plant disease

ITHACA, N.Y. – Two Cornell University experts on "late blight" – the disease responsible for causing the Irish Potato Famine in the 1840s – will hold a telephone press conference on Friday, July 10, 2009 at 11 a.m. The disease is currently found on tomato plants throughout the Northeastern United States.

For the press conference, journalists are welcome to call (866) 910-4857, and to use the access code: 858 182

Participants in the press conference will be: Bill Fry, Cornell professor of plant pathology, of Cornell's Ithaca campus, and Meg McGrath, Cornell associate professor of plant pathology, of Cornell's Long Island Horticultural Research and Extension Center, Riverhead, N.Y. They will provide updated information on the disease and answer questions.

Fry studies late blight, and the pathogen that causes it is scientifically known as Phytophthora infestans. He examines the epidemiology and management, population genetics, molecular biology and genomics. His activities range from conducting molecular manipulations in the lab to phenotypic assessments in the growth chamber, to epidemiological manipulations in the field.

McGrath focuses on the management of diseases affecting vegetables grown on Long Island, investigating pathogen biology and evaluating control practices, fungicides, resistant varieties, and integration of chemical and genetic control.

EDITORS: Blaine Friedlander, of the Cornell Press Relations Office, will moderate the press conference. Please RSVP to bpf2@cornell.edu.

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