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What is Potato Blight?

By Helga George
Updated: May 16, 2024
Views: 26,691
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Potato blight is a term that can refer to one of two potato diseases. Late blight is caused by the Oomycete Phytophthora infestans, an organism that used to be considered a fungus, but is now thought to be related to algae. It is a notorious plant disease, being responsible for the Irish potato famine that led to large-scale death in the 1840s. Early blight is caused by the fungus Alternaria solani. Both of these plant diseases can also affect tomatoes, and other members of the Solanaceae family.

Of all the potato diseases, late blight is the most destructive. It is most devastating in moist, cool areas, such as parts of North America, China, and Western Europe. Whole fields can be destroyed within a week or two, under the appropriate weather conditions. The potatoes can easily become infected and rot later in storage, even if there is only a small amount of disease in the field.

Late blight is such a severe plant disease that several countries have considered using it as a biological weapon to destroy a country’s food supply. The devastation that can be wrought by late blight was shown by the Irish potato famine of the 1840s. Irish farmers had come to depend on potatoes as their primary food source, and when the weather turned cold and moist, an infestation of potato blight totally destroyed the potato crop. It is estimated that 1.5 million Irish people died of hunger, and an equal amount emigrated to escape starvation, primarily to the United States.

The initial symptoms on the plants are spots at the edges of the leaves, which enlarge to become blighted areas. If the weather is moist, white mildew then forms underneath the leaves, and the potato blight spreads to kill entire leaves. With continuing wet weather, all of the parts of the plant above ground rot away. The disease can halt if the weather become dry, only to start again if moist conditions return.

Fungicides should be used when conditions favor late blight infection. Left over potatoes at the end of the season should be destroyed, since they can harbor the pathogen. At the end of the season, any above ground plant parts should be sprayed with herbicide, so they do not act as a source of potato blight. It is ideal to use resistant potato varieties, but many of the popular varieties are susceptible. One should only use seed potatoes that are certified to be free of the late blight pathogen.

There are many different races of Phytophthora infestans, which vary in the types of potatoes they will attack. This situation has become more complicated with the spread of an additional, mating type. Theoretically, this pathogen can reproduce both sexually and asexually. Throughout most of the world, however, the reproduction had been asexual. There had not been genetic recombination to help facilitate the production of new strains.

For there to be sexual reproduction, an additional mating type was needed. This mating type was found only in Mexico until the 1980s. Now, it is spreading throughout the world. Not only does this mean that sexual reproduction can lead to the production of new strains and new forms of aggressive pathogens, but the sexual spore produced can survive in the soil for years. This complicates control measures, since the asexual form requires living tissue and cannot survive in the soil.

Early blight, the other form of potato blight caused by Alternaria solani, is generally a less devastating disease. While it is usually present wherever potatoes are grown, this fungal disease rarely causes losses exceeding 20%, unless it is left uncontrolled. Despite its name, it usually causes disease on mature leaves. In some areas, infection of the leaves is the most serious problem, while infection of the tubers is the more serious problem in other places.

The foliar symptoms of early blight are easy to distinguish, and include a series of dark, concentric circles that alternate with bands of tan leaf tissue. By the end of the growing season, the lesions may join together and cover much of the leaf. If the infection of the leaves and stems is severe, this increases the chances for yield loss, and possible infection of the tubers.

The application of foliar fungicides is the most common and effective means of control. Spraying does not need to be started until right after bloom, or at the first sign of disease. Susceptible cultivars should be avoided in areas where the disease is prevalent. The fungus winters in the soil, so rotating with different crops can help prevent infection, as can plowing under plant refuse in the fall.

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Discussion Comments
By Alchemy — On Apr 20, 2011

@parmnparsley- Applying mulch is a good idea...it made a big difference for my nightshades. I also bake eggshells, and pulverize them into a powder that I spread on the soil around my plants as a and potato blight treatment. I have read that calcium is a good organic treatment that kills the fungus (I think). I have also resorted to using drip irrigation on my nightshades. My garden supply store manager told me that the light contaminates plants from water splashing the spores onto the lower stems and leaves. Good luck with your blight treatment.

By parmnparsley — On Apr 18, 2011

@chicada- Blight is one of the worst diseases a gardener can encounter. I have had both tomato and potato blight, and it is hard to get rid of. The best course of action is to pull your plants at the first sign of blight and burn or dispose of them properly. Keep the infected plants away from other plants, and do not mulch them in your compost.

When you plant your potatoes next season, plant them in a different area (if you can). Finally, when you grow potatoes you should mulch them with a thick layer so that the soil does not splash onto the plants when they are watered or it rains. The fungus or algae that cause the two types of blight live in the soil, often being transferred to the plants during watering. I would also raise the issue with your garden supply store about contaminated soil.

By chicada — On Apr 16, 2011

I think I have potatoe blight. I am not exactly sure because I have never had potatoe blight before, but it is starting to look like early symptoms of blight. What bothers me the most is I bought the soil and the plants from a national chain home improvement and garden supply store. I bought a few yards of bagged organic gardening soil and a few early girl tomatoes among other things.

My tiny garden was new this year and all of the soil that was there before I dug out to almost two feet deep. Within a month of planting, I had an infestation of mushrooms (They looked similar to the straw mushrooms one would find in a Chinese dish). Now my potatoes are spotting on the lower leaves and a couple of the top leaves, although there are no black blighted spots yet.

My soil pH is good, and my nutrients are good. I have no idea what is going on with my plants. Does anyone have any recommendations on what I should do?

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