Scrotnig's fascinating facts Started by Scrotnig, 20th May 2018 13:42 in Talk & Chat

The blight that killed my tomato plants late last year was apparently the same strain that caused the Irish potato famine.

The only fungicide capable of controlling it was outlawed by the EU in 2014!

I call bullshit. The species of fungus that caused the Irish Potato Famine was Phytophthora infestans.

However, the is no modern strain of this fungus that is the same as the one that caused the Irish famine, that strain is thought to be extinct.

Although some fungicides were indeed banned in 2014, there are others still avaiable.

Fork Me said: ▲ some fungicides were indeed banned in 2014,

Why was that? We seem to have existed with using them for many years...same with DDT...and creosote.

sphinx said: ▲ Why was that? We seem to have existed with using them for many years...same with DDT...and creosote.

And we didn't have to listen to Diane Abbott.

sphinx said: ▲ Why was that? We seem to have existed with using them for many years...same with DDT...and creosote.

Do you think that because we use something for a while without realising the harm it causes we should continue using it after we do?

Fork Me said: ▲ without realising the harm it causes

Should that be 'Perceived harm'? We have only political prattle to go on!

Fork Me said: ▲ I call bullshit. The species of fungus that caused the Irish Potato Famine was Phytophthora infestans. However, the is no modern strain of this fungus that is the same as the one that caused the Irish famine, that strain is thought to be extinct. Although some fungicides were indeed banned in 2014, there are others still avaiable.

Apparently it's not even a fungus!
Late blight of tomatoes is the result of Phytophthora infestans and is notorious as the cause of the Irish potato famine during the 1800’s. Although it shares some similarities, P. infestans is not a fungus nor is it a bacterium or a virus, but rather belongs to a class of organisms called protists. Sometimes referred to as water molds, protists thrive in humid, moist environs, produce spores and spread when water is on the plants foliage. They may afflict plants from spring to fall depending upon favorable weather conditions.

Read more at Gardening Know How: Are Blight Infected Tomatoes Edible? https://www.gardeningknowhow.com/edi...d-tomatoes.htm

Scrotnig said: ▲ Apparently it's not even a fungus!

That's splitting hairs, iit used to be classified as a fungus but isn't anymore (and, yes I had to look that up to make sure), it still behaves like one in most ways.

Nonetheless, what you have is NOT the same STRAIN of Phytophthora infestans that caused the potato famine. That strain is, as I said, extinct.