An oomycete pathogen (Phytophthora infestans), classed among the plant pathogenic water molds long grouped with fungi in agricultural practice, that causes rapidly spreading dark lesions on potato and tomato leaves, stems and tubers. It caused the Irish potato famine of the 1840s, one of history's most consequential agricultural disasters, and it remains one of the costliest plant diseases in the world, with global management and loss costs estimated at several billion dollars a year.
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Associated With
Tomato, Crops Late blight (Phytophthora infestans) attacks tomato as well as potato and caused the Irish famine on the latter.
Sources
1. Late Blight (Wikipedia)
Wikimedia FoundationOpening definition paragraph
Phytophthora infestans is an oomycete or water mold, a fungus-like microorganism (oomycete) that causes the serious crop disease known as late blight or potato blight. The Early blight caused by Alternaria solani is also often called "potato blight".
lead description
An oomycete pathogen (Phytophthora infestans), classed among the plant pathogenic water molds long grouped with fungi in agricultural practice, that causes rapidly spreading dark lesions on potato and tomato leaves, stems and tubers.
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