Potato blight from fungus (Phytophthora infestans) Science Image

Ref: 16005e



Potato blight. Coloured scanning electron micrograph (SEM) of the potato blight fungus (Phytophthora infestans) on a potato plant leaf (Solanum tuberosum). The fungal sporangiophores are seen emerging from a stoma of the leaf. Their sporangia pods eventually become detached and float off, spreading the infection to other potato plants. Phytophthora infestans infection results in the discolouration and lesion of potato plant leaves, and was responsible for the Irish potato famine of 1845. Magnification: x282 at 5x7cm size.