Potato is a very popular vegetable crop in Myanmar and is essentially grown all year round. Phytophthora infestans, the fungus that caused the Irish Potato Famine in the 1840s, was first found in Southeast Asia in the late 1800s and has since been an annual widespread problem. Without fungicide protection, the disease spreads rapidly and can kill all the plants in a field within a few days.

“In Myanmar, late blight caused by Phytophthora infestans is the most destructive disease of potato. … High incidence and severity of potato late blight occur in this area because the crop can be found year-round at all stages of development, providing a constant source of primary inoculum.”

“At present, fungicide applications play a vital role in potato late blight control as resistant cultivars have not been widely available and adopted. … Fungicide is applied most frequently on post monsoon crops, which is when the weather conditions are ideal for late blight development.”

Author: M.M. Myint, Y.Y. Myint and H. Myint
Affiliation: Department of Plant Pathology, Yezin Agricultural University, Yezin, Myanmar
Title: Occurrence and growers’ perception of potato late blight in Kalaw Township, Myanmar.
Publication: Regional Workshop on Potato Late Blight for East and Southeast Asia and the Pacific Proceedings. 2004. 24-25 August, Yezin, Myanmar.