Wild potato relatives help fight late blight

Media: Spudman

Late blight, caused by Phytophthora infestans, is one of the most threatening pathogenic diseases in potatoes. It is estimated that losses due to late blight cost global potato farmers an estimated $6.7 billion annually. Globally, scientists believe wild potato relatives hold the key to unlocking new sources of resistance. In the United Kingdom, U.S. and sub-Sahara Africa, scientists integrate resistance genes from wild relatives into regionally popular varieties, which help to increase uptake.

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