Late blight (potato blight, foliar blight)

Description

Late blight of potato is identified by black/brown lesions on leaves and stems that may be small at first and appear water-soaked or have chlorotic borders, but soon expand rapidly and become necrotic. In humid conditions, Phytophthora infestans produces sporangia and sporangiophores on the surface of infected tissue. This sporulation results in a visible white growth at the leading edge of lesions on abaxial (lower) surfaces of leaves. As many lesions accumulate, the entire plant can be destroyed in only a few days after the first lesions are observed.