Potato Blight Pathogen. This virtual issue of plant pathology contains reviews and articles on the potato late blight pathogen, phytophthora infestans. Phytophthora infestans is an oomycete that causes severe damage to potato, and is well known for its ability to evolve rapidly in order to overcome resistant potato varieties.
Early blight is a common fungal disease of solanaceous crops (tomatoes, potatoes, peppers, eggplants) caused by alternaria solani. Phytophthora infestans, the causal agent of late blight, is one of the most costly pathogens of potato and tomato worldwide.