Late Blight Nightmare: Microbial Solutions for Managing <i>Phytophthora infestans</i> in UK Potato Crops

Phytophthora infestans, the cause of late blight, is a destructive Oomycete pathogen that infects potato plants worldwide and causes significant economic losses in the UK agricultural industry. The pathogen evolves rapidly, and fungicide resistance development is a common problem. This case study highlights an innovative research project that was led by Bactobio and supported by Crop Health and Protection (CHAP), now known as the UK Agri-Tech Centre, which aimed to help tackle the issue. It also explores the impact P. infestans is having on global potato cultivation, common disease symptoms, pathogen lifecycle and strategies employed to manage and mitigate its devastating effects.