Washington, DC, USA
January 2012

Source: CropLife Foundation

International Pesticide Benefits Case Study No. 29, September 2011
Leonard Gianessi and Ashley Williams

Italy is the most important country in Europe for the production of tomatoes
producing 14 billion pounds a year. 90% of Italy’s tomatoes are grown for processed
products (canned, paste, sauce). Tomatoes are produced principally in the North
(Emilia Romagna, Lombardia) and in the South (Puglia, Campania).

Late blight is the most dangerous disease of tomatoes in Italy. Late blight is caused
by Phytophthora infestans, a pathogen which also causes late blight of potatoes. The
late blight pathogen was first found attacking tomatoes in 1847. In the past heavy
epidemics led to considerable yield losses in Italian tomato-growing areas.

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Website: http://www.croplife.org

Published: January 9, 2012