potato blight
Crop-destroying fungus
Potato blight is a plant disease caused by fungus-like organisms that devastates potato crops, turning leaves black and tubers to rot.
The Irish potato blight of the 1840s triggered mass starvation and emigration.
The term extends to similar diseases affecting tomatoes and other nightshades: Late blight destroyed half the harvest.
- phytophthoraPlant-attacking oomycete genus
- fungusSpore-bearing organism
- diseaseDisorder impairing normal function
- cropCultivated agricultural plants
- pathogenDisease-causing microorganism
crop failure · black rot · decay · Great Famine · sporangia · plant disease · evictions · Ireland · infestation · starvation · soup kitchens · pesticide · tenant farmers · Irish diaspora · fungicide · subsistence farming · necrosis · workhouse
- Irish HistoryGreat Famine, Easter Rising, Irish nationalism, Irish War of Independence, Irish Civil War
- fungal diseasescandidiasis, histoplasmosis, powdery mildew, downy mildew, jock itch
- Irish Faminestarvation, mass starvation, coffin ships, emigration, workhouses
- plant diseaseswilt, rot, canker, root rot, leaf spot
- potatoesrusset, fingerling, fingerlings, creamer, spuds
- tuber farmingcassava
potato blightplant health
Wellness of vegetation
disease-free · disease resistance · uninfected · healthy · immunity
potato blightbumper crop
Unusually large harvest
good harvest · food security · high yield · plenty · famine relief