A reliable test was developed to identify and measure intermediate levels of resistance to late blight in tomato populations, including exceptional individuals within these genetically segregating groups. Following this, selections were made, and attempts at cross-pollinations were conducted between resistant individuals, hoping to combine favorable genetic traits for higher levels of horizontal resistance (HR) in future populations.

The onset of late blight disease symptoms was sudden and progressed rapidly. Weekly assessments of disease severity effectively distinguished the most resistant tomato accessions from others. However, finer distinctions in resistance levels among accessions could not be achieved as anticipated due to the rapid severity of the disease epidemic. Seeds were successfully selected and collected from putative HR individuals that demonstrated less severe symptoms.

Unfortunately, the cross-pollinations attempted at the start of the disease did not mature into seeds, as the severity of late blight ultimately affected all plants in the test, impairing their ability to ripen fruit. Several logistical changes were made to the experiment for continuation of the project in 2005.

Outreach increased significantly with the involvement of students from The Evergreen State College in Olympia, whose farm served as one of the test sites. Student participation extended beyond the agroecology program to include individuals from math and statistics courses. The project was integrated into the curriculum and, now in its second year, continues to offer a valuable research model previously unavailable to farm students.