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Cause of Potato Scab. The cause of common potato scab is a bacterium, Streptomyces Scabies, found in the soil. It is most common on light, sandy soils, low in organic matter. Soils that were previously grassland are particularly liable to having the disease. Soils with a high pH (recently limed) provide a better environment for the bacteria.
Potato late blight, caused by Phytophthora infestans. Potato late blight is one of the most devastating plant diseases. The epidemics that destroyed potato crops in Europe in the 1840s led to mass starvation.For example, in the Great Irish Famine of 1845 to 1847, up to one million people died and a similar number of people emigrated to the rest of Europe and the USA.ext and links may be out of date. The Microbial World: Potato blight-Phytophthora infestansProduced by Jim Deacon Institute of Cell and Molecular Biology, The University of Edinburgh Potato late blight, caused by Phytophthora infestans Potato late blight is one of the most devastating plant diseases.