Heirloom varieties versus modern F1 etc

[SarzWix]

I thought that previously we only had female spores of blight, whereas now the male spores have arrived and so it's able to 'breed' and change so that most previously blight resistant varieties now aren't? And the wet weather is just making it so much worse If it carries on I don't think potatoes will be a staple part of our diet for much longer.

[veg man]

could we please end this about blight seen these disussions before, they never end to well ,as we all know not to use are own or shop bought spuds because of deseases you can get i know this may not be everyone point of veiw we all have are own Thank you I hope i have not upset anyone with my comments this was not intended

[marchogaeth]

I thought that previously we only had female spores of blight, whereas now the male spores have arrived and so it's able to 'breed' and change so that most previously blight resistant varieties now aren't? And the wet weather is just making it so much worse If it carries on I don't think potatoes will be a staple part of our diet for much longer.

This discussion on blight has been really interetsting. I had a quick Google and found this site which is quite informative MykoWeb: Potato Blight. I have no idea how accurate it is but it looks sensible and refers to the point Sarz made.

[zazen999]

I thought that previously we only had female spores of blight, whereas now the male spores have arrived and so it's able to 'breed' and change so that most previously blight resistant varieties now aren't? And the wet weather is just making it so much worse If it carries on I don't think potatoes will be a staple part of our diet for much longer.

As per the linkie March posted...

'In the 1970s, a new aggressive strain of the blight appeared with devastating effects. Till then the European version of Ph. infestans, had lacked the capacity for sexual recombination, but this new strain, which originated in the central highlands in Mexico, was of a different mating type. The blight could now fulfill the complete life cycle with a sexual part, and through genetic recombination soon was resistant against the applied fungicides'

Hence a new strain was brought back and it has affected us ever since...

[VirginVegGrower]

See rudey stuff always ends in something unless you take precautions Well someone had to say it!