Potato late blight caused by <i>Phytophthora infestans</i>: An overview on pathology, integrated disease management approaches, and forecasting models

<p dir="ltr">Late Blight of potato, caused by fungal pathogen Phytophthora infestans, is a highly destructive disease that affects potato crops on a global scale. The pathogen, P. infestans, shows a complex biology, with both sexual and asexual life cycles that involve the production of hardy oospores. The symptoms of late blight are severe, leading to the destruction of foliage and the rotting of tubers during storage. The interaction between Phytophthora infestans and its host plants is a complex interplay of molecular and physiological mechanisms. Understanding these intricate processes is crucial for developing effective strategies to combat this devastating pathogen, as it continuously evolves to overcome plant defenses, posing ongoing challenges to agriculture. To effectively manage this disease, an integrated disease management (IDM) approach is necessary, which combines cultural practices, host resistance, biological control agents, and judicious chemical control measures. Eliminating sources of inoculum through strict sanitation, utilizing resistant cultivars, employing biocontrol agents such as Trichoderma spp., and implementing fungicide schedules are essential components of this approach. Furthermore, incorporating genes that confer resistance from wild relatives into commercial cultivars also facilitates efficient disease management. Accurate disease forecasting models incorporate weather data and serve as invaluable tools for decision support, optimizing the timing and economics of fungicide applications. Models like BLITECAST, JHULSACAST, and advanced process-based systems are continuously being improved. This comprehensive review explores the latest research on this devastating oomycete pathogen, providing valuable perspectives for scientists, breeders, growers, and forecasting models involved in sustainable late blight management.</p>