Pests and

	Growing Potatoes Potato Famine

Disease

Blight (A Phytophthora infestation)

The Late Blight Fungus can be generally destructive disease towards the potato crop - it caused the loss of the Irish potato crop between 1843-47.

Blight affected leaves

This fungus is airborne, water and seed borne, with the innoculum sources being seed and volunteers (potatoes that grow from the previous crop) and is also seen in potato dumps.

The disease first appears on the leaves with a white mould on the underside.

Controls include, fungicides, disease free seed, resistant varieties.

Other Diseases

There are other diseases that will affect the quality of a potato

Rhizoctonia

Common Scab

Black Dot

Silver Scurf

Skin Spot

Shepard's Purse - one of the many annual broad leaved weeds that can grow in a potato crop inhibiting the growth and development of the crop.

Pests are also a problem to the growing potato crop, such as

Slugs

Wireworm

Aphids

...all affecting the potato tubers.