PRINCE.EDWARD.ISLAND (CBC) - Two cases of late blight, a fungus that is potentially devastating to potato crops, have been confirmed in fields in P.E.I.

Rachel Cheverie, the potato industry co-ordinator for the province, told CBC News Wednesday the humid weather has been a contributing factor.

"We usually expect to see blight around now," said Cheverie. One case was in the Kensington area, north of Summerside, and the other was in Uigg, east of Charlottetown.

"Both cases were caught fairly early ... They noticed a few lesions on a few plants, brought them into our lab for identification and then the growers had gone back and pulled any plants with any symptoms in those areas, and killed the surrounding areas. So we're hoping that those were under control, caught early enough."

Late blight starts on the leaves of the potato plant and spreads down into the potato. It is the same fungus that caused the Irish potato famine. It can be controlled with fungicides and careful inspection of fields.

Although modern practices keep blight from destroying whole crops, controlling it can be expensive.

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