Late Blight of Potato (Phytophthora infestans) II: Employing Integrated Approaches in Late Blight Disease Management

Abstract

Late blight of potato is a yield reducing and one of the most costly diseases of potato and other plants belonging to family Solanaceae. Induced by Phytophthora infestans, the disease prevails throughout the world where potato and other Solanaceous crops are cultivated. P. infestans has a broad host range; however, the most severe effects of late blight are more evident on its principal hosts – potato and tomato. Cool and humid environmental conditions ideally propagate the pathogen which may result in severe disease outbreaks with substantial crop losses. Currently, extensive use of chemical fungicides is the only effective measure to control late blight; however, their use offers public, environmental and economic challenges. Thus, it is necessary to address these challenges by employing integrated disease control strategies. This review highlights all those combined techniques which may be effective in controlling late blight of potato while sustaining environment, public health and economic costs incurred by the disease.