Potato and late blight

The most devastating disease in potato cultivation throughout the world is late blight caused by Phytophthora infestans, a fungus-like micro-organism from the class of oomycetes. Late blight problems result in economic costs that sum to 5.7 billion dollars annually1. A large part of these costs are associated with the purchase and application of fungicides. Farmers in humid moderate climates spray on average 10 to 15 times to control the disease, but this can go up to 20 times in wet growing seasons2.