Officers within the region have released counseling after the fungal ailment known as late blight was discovered on tomato seedlings at many retail sites in Winnipeg and Brandon.

The blight does not lead to any human health problems, but causes a critical sickness problem for vegetables in the nightshade family, together with tomatoes and potatoes, said local officials.

Retail stores have discontinued vending the tomato plants.

Officers said that the blight appears as lesions and grey-green parts on leaves and can also turn up as white mildew on the bottom of leaves in high moisture.

Officials said that home growers should check out their tomatoes and potatoes at once.

If late blight is evident, demolishing the influenced plants by pulling up and bagging the tainted ones is the best choice to avoid further swell to healthy plants, said officials.

Executives said that commercial potato cultivators should apply protectant fungicide on their crops as early as possible and then examine their fields.

Commercial growers should also examine their own home-garden areas for contagion on tomato and other plants in the nightshade family.

More information is accessible by getting in touch with Manitoba Agriculture's crops knowledge centre.