There are resistant types out there already, just not the sweet basil we all prefer for so many uses.

According to a publication from Cornell, Rutgers has made some very promising discoveries and is hard at work. Be mindful that researchers, geneticists, plant breeders and other scientists from all over the world have been working on this problem for years.

You may be interested in the entire online publication, seen HERE.

Yes, I was just wondering if there was any news of any updates on breeding a resistant variety.... I want sweet basil, I don't like the other types (at least not that I have tried.) I guess I should ask again in January when all the new seed catalogs are out.

The news is that they've isolated the genes and are working towards creating resistant cultivars. It will be years, I expect.

According to Rutgers, they will have a resistant variety of sweet basil out for 2016 but only for licensed commercial growers. It will probably be 2017 or 18 before it will be available to the masses. They are also working on different varieties (ie various leaf sizes, compact, etc) but they are probably a few years out too. Anyone know a licensed, commercial grower that can get you some next year??!! If so, let me know! :)

I got downy mildew this year but was able to control it to a large extent with Kphite. (Not organic but approved for basil.) I also grew Eleanora which seemed to be a little bit resistant. I grow hundreds of plants and lost probably half. I also have some small greenhouses I was able to throw a lot of them in and basically "sweat out" the disease. High heat kills it. I found it in early August and am still fighting it but it is not debilitating.