late blight

Late blight is a devastating plant disease caused by a water mold that primarily attacks potatoes and tomatoes.

The pathogen spreads rapidly in cool, wet conditions, causing dark lesions on leaves and stems that can destroy entire crops within days.

Late blight was responsible for the Irish Potato Famine of the 1840s, which killed over a million people and triggered mass emigration.

Farmers monitor weather conditions closely to prevent late blight outbreaks.