Home gardeners and commercial farmers say their crops are at risk of succumbing to an infectious plant disease that had reached the Northeast.

Pace University microbiology professor Laura Cimini says the fungus, known as late blight, is the same fungus responsible for Ireland?s Great Potato Famine of the 1840s. She says it can affect both tomato and potato plants.

Farmer Wayne Outhouse says the fungus has appeared earlier than usual this year because it thrives in the wet, cool weather the Northeast has been slammed with for weeks.

Experts suggest using pesticides to prevent the fungus and getting rid of infected plants.