late blight
noun
: a disease of solanaceous plants (such as the potato and tomato) that is caused by a fungus (Phytophthora infestans) and is characterized by decay of stems, leaves, and in the potato also of tubers
Examples of late blight in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
One New York lab was in the middle of investigating a potential outbreak of late blight, a potato disease, when the lead scientist was fired, said Isako Di Tomassi, a graduate student at Cornell University who worked in the lab.
—
Emily Anthes, New York Times, 26 Feb. 2025
Reconstructing historic and modern potato late blight outbreaks using text analytics
RHS.
—Jack Knudson, Discover Magazine, 24 Jan. 2025
Both tomatoes were bred using West Virginia ’63 as the parent fruit and boasted resistance to late blight as well as to Septoria leaf spot, a defoliating disease that exposes the fruit to sunburn.
—Ashley Stimpson, Washington Post, 15 June 2024
Avoid late blight in the first place by planting tomato varieties that have late blight resistance.
—Megan Hughes, Better Homes & Gardens, 1 May 2023
There are two distinct types of tomato blight—early blight and late blight.
—Megan Hughes, Better Homes & Gardens, 1 May 2023
Spray potatoes and tomatoes for early and late blight. Trade-name products and services are mentioned as illustrations only.
—oregonlive, 1 Aug. 2022
Within these genebanks, researchers have already identified a gene in wild potatoes that could help breed modern varieties to withstand late blight, the world’s most damaging disease for potato crops.
—Claudia Sadoff, Fortune, 23 Dec. 2021
Coastal and Western valleys: Spray susceptible varieties of potatoes and tomatoes for early and late blight.
—oregonlive, 1 Sep. 2021
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Emily Anthes, New York Times, 26 Feb. 2025
Reconstructing historic and modern potato late blight outbreaks using text analytics
RHS.
—Jack Knudson, Discover Magazine, 24 Jan. 2025
Both tomatoes were bred using West Virginia ’63 as the parent fruit and boasted resistance to late blight as well as to Septoria leaf spot, a defoliating disease that exposes the fruit to sunburn.
—Ashley Stimpson, Washington Post, 15 June 2024
Avoid late blight in the first place by planting tomato varieties that have late blight resistance.
—Megan Hughes, Better Homes & Gardens, 1 May 2023
There are two distinct types of tomato blight—early blight and late blight.
—Megan Hughes, Better Homes & Gardens, 1 May 2023
Spray potatoes and tomatoes for early and late blight. Trade-name products and services are mentioned as illustrations only.
—oregonlive, 1 Aug. 2022
Within these genebanks, researchers have already identified a gene in wild potatoes that could help breed modern varieties to withstand late blight, the world’s most damaging disease for potato crops.
—Claudia Sadoff, Fortune, 23 Dec. 2021
Coastal and Western valleys: Spray susceptible varieties of potatoes and tomatoes for early and late blight.
—oregonlive, 1 Sep. 2021
Cite this Entry
“Late blight.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/late%20blight. Accessed 5 Jul. 2025.
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