Late blight, the same disease that caused Ireland's potato famine in the 19th century, was confirmed in three Pennsylvania counties last week. Potatoes and tomatoes in commercial production fields in Blair, Franklin and Mifflin counties have been hit, according to Beth Gugino, assistant professor of plant pathology in Penn State's College of Agricultural Sciences. She added that while late blight has been found only in commercial fields so far, home gardeners should be vigilant for symptoms in their plants as well.

A study examining the prevalence of the fungus Fusarium in bathroom sink drains suggests that plumbing systems may be a common source of human infections. In the first extensive survey of its kind, researchers in Penn State's College of Agricultural Sciences sampled nearly 500 sink drains from 131 buildings -- businesses, homes, university dormitories and public facilities -- in Pennsylvania, Maryland, Virginia, North Carolina, South Carolina, Georgia, Florida and California. They analyzed fungal DNA to compare the spectrum of Fusarium species and sequence types found in drains with those recovered from human infections.

A Web-based resource developed by researchers in Penn State's College of Agricultural Sciences is helping crop producers manage insects, diseases and weeds, often while reducing the need for pesticides.

Across the northeast, home gardeners expecting the usual bumper crop of tomatoes this season were dismayed to find their plants affected by late blight, the same fungus that caused Ireland's potato famine in the 19th century. According to Beth Gugino, assistant professor of plant pathology at Penn State, late blight is a fungus that primarily affects tomatoes, potatoes and certain solanaceous weeds such as bittersweet nightshade.