Potato blight is a fungal disease that has been a major player in several famines in Europe , Ireland and Scotland . It can also taint other member of the solanaceae house , notably tomatoes . The blight is favored by moist , warm environments and can be hard to control . The olfaction is distinct and can identify the disease .
About Potato Blight
Two types of fungus kingdom can infect potatoes and cause what is known as blight – Phytophthora infestansandAlternaria solani . Both are called potato blight , with the first being known as late blight and the 2nd as early blight . The initial contagion occurs in the leaves and then moves to the Tuber . Potato blight can ravage the intact crop and contaminate the soil .
History and Potato Blight
Potato blight was a major factor in the expatriation of many Irish and Scots to America in the 1840s . In Ireland , specially , the shortage leave from the blight was thought to have kill more than a million people who were dependent on the crop . One reason the famine was so destructive was that most Irish were growing the Irish Lumper multifariousness , which was very susceptible to blight .
Transmission of Blight
As a fungous disease , white potato blight spread through spores . The spores are spread by the malarky from infected plants or contaminated soil . ardent winters increase the risk of blight , as do wet summertime . The fungus proliferates in dampish condition . Gardeners can also spread blight spore if they handle infected plant life or tubers , industrial plant Irish potato in polluted ground or storage in contaminated areas .
High Risk Periods
Smith and Hutton periods are formally defined conditions that create the weather condition necessary for blight to become a problem . The Smith period is a 48 - hour period in which the minimum temperature is 50 ° F ( 10 ° C ) and the comparative humidity surmount 90 percent for 11 hours in two consecutive days . A Hutton point is two consecutive days with minimum temperatures of at least 50 ° F ( 10 ° snow ) and proportional humidness of 90 percentage for at least six hours .
Symptoms of Potato Blight
The spore of the blight fungus can lie torpid on a industrial plant until term are right . The first sign of an infection is normally brown speckles on the leaves . These may circularise to larger patches with a yellowish border . The foliage begins to wilt and turn brown as it moulder . lacrimation or rain spread the fungus to the tuber , which developdarkpatches on the skin and moulder in spite of appearance . Potato blight also has a clear-cut odor .
Resistant Varieties
If your springs are wet , plantearly varieties . Blight risk increase as the conditions warms . These are all blight - insubordinate , with Elba at the top of the list :
Treating Potato Blight
Bordeaux mixture is the traditional atomiser for blight . It is a liquid mix of copper sulfate and slaked lime adulterate in water supply . It is approved for organic consumption . It is commonly applied as a preventive when Smith or Hutton period come about . You may also be able to find oneself some herbal constituent preparations . Neem oil preparations have been found to be effective against some blights .
Search and Destroy
At the first sign of blight , cut off infected plants and combust them . If the tubers have already set about to make grow , impart them in the ground for about three weeks to forbid transmission . Keep tubers wellhilledup to keep blight spores from dropping on them . Examine stored potatoes every Clarence Day or two and ruin any that show signs of blight .
Keep It Clean
safe garden sanitization is one of the effective ways to preclude blight from taking over . slay all potato when you harvest . Rogue out volunteer plants . Do n’t leave reject tater lying around . Always irrigate the base of the industrial plant rather than spray the leave-taking . clean house your tools and wash your hands , especially after handling infected plants . Clean storage areas each spring and let them dry all summer .
Prevention Strategies
Organic bar strategies can help prevent blight or decrease its effects . Potatoes postulate an ample supply of potassium and may be more prone to blight if your soil is low in atomic number 19 . supererogatory nitrogen can give rise plush growth that is more susceptible to blight . Plant your Solanum tuberosum on ridges in the direction of the prevailing winds if possible . effective air circulation help decrease blight risk .
