Phytophthora infestans

Phytophthora infestans is an oomycete pathogen that causes late blight in potatoes and tomatoes. Its destruction of potato crops contributed to the Irish Great Famine.

Oomycetes: Oomycetes are fungus-like eukaryotic organisms that include many important plant pathogens. This pathogen belongs to this group, despite not being a true fungus.
Mexico: Mexico is a country in North America and a center of origin for several cultivated plants. Genetic evidence links the lineage behind the European epidemic to Mexican populations.
Potato breeding: Potato breeding is the development of potato varieties with desired agricultural traits. Breeders seek varieties that resist infection by this pathogen.
Irish Great Famine: The Irish Great Famine was a catastrophe from 1845 to 1852 marked by mass starvation, disease, and emigration. Repeated potato crop failures caused by late blight contributed to the famine.
Fungi: Fungi are eukaryotic organisms that absorb nutrients and include yeasts, molds, and mushrooms. Oomycetes resemble fungi but belong to a different evolutionary lineage.
Late blight: Late blight is a destructive plant disease caused by Phytophthora infestans, especially in potatoes and tomatoes. This is the disease produced by the pathogen.
European potato failure of 1845: The European potato failure of 1845 was an outbreak of late blight that devastated potato harvests across parts of Europe. It marks the pathogen’s first major recorded epidemic in Europe.
Late blight resistance: Late blight resistance is the ability of a plant to limit infection or damage caused by Phytophthora infestans. It is a central target in efforts to protect potato and tomato crops.
Irish diaspora: The Irish diaspora is the global population of people of Irish origin living outside Ireland. Famine-era deaths and emigration expanded Irish communities abroad.
Phytophthora ramorum: Phytophthora ramorum is an oomycete pathogen that causes sudden oak death and ramorum blight. It is a related pathogen with different principal hosts and diseases.

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