Abstract
The plant pathogen Phytophthora infestans causes late blight, a devastating disease on potato that led to the Irish potato famine during 1845-1847. The disease is considered a reemerging problem and still causes major epidemics on both potato and tomato crops worldwide. Theories on the origin of the disease based on an examination of the genetic diversity and structure of P. infestans populations and use of historic specimens to understand modern day epidemics are discussed.
Publication types
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Historical Article
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Research Support, U.S. Gov't, Non-P.H.S.
MeSH terms
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Base Sequence
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DNA, Mitochondrial / genetics
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DNA, Ribosomal / genetics
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Disease Outbreaks / history
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History, 19th Century
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History, 20th Century
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Humans
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Ireland / epidemiology
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Mexico
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Molecular Sequence Data
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Phytophthora / genetics
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Phytophthora / pathogenicity*
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Plant Diseases / history*
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Plant Diseases / microbiology
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Sequence Analysis, DNA
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Solanum tuberosum / microbiology*
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Starvation / epidemiology
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Starvation / history
Substances
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DNA, Mitochondrial
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DNA, Ribosomal