potato mildew
Học thuậtThân thiện
Definition
Noun: 1. A fungal disease affecting potato plants: "Potato mildew" refers to a specific type of plant disease, or blight, caused by fungal pathogens that attack potato plants. It is characterized by the growth of a whitish, powdery or downy substance on the leaves and stems, which can damage the plant and reduce tuber yield.
Usage Examples
- Noun:
- The farmer sprayed his crop to prevent an outbreak of potato mildew.
- Wet, humid conditions can encourage the spread of potato mildew.
- This variety of potato shows some resistance to potato mildew.
Advanced Usage
- As a subject of agricultural study: The term is used in scientific and agricultural contexts to discuss plant pathology, crop management, and disease resistance.
- The research paper focused on the lifecycle of the pathogen responsible for potato mildew.
Variants and Related Words
- Potato blight: A more general term for potato diseases, which can include "potato mildew" as a specific type. Late blight () is a famous and devastating example, though it is technically an oomycete, not a true fungus.
- Downy mildew: A specific type of mildew affecting many plants, which can be related to some forms of potato disease.
- Powdery mildew: Another specific type of fungal disease that appears as a white powder on leaves, which can also affect potatoes.
Synonyms
- Potato blight: A very close synonym, often used interchangeably in non-scientific contexts.
- Fungal disease (of potatoes): A more general descriptive synonym.
Notes on Meaning
- The term "potato mildew" is a compound noun where "potato" specifies the host plant and "mildew" specifies the type of disease. It is treated as a single lexical unit for this specific agricultural disease.
- It is distinct from general "mildew," which can refer to fungal growth on various surfaces like walls or fabrics. "Potato mildew" is exclusively a plant pathology term.
Noun
- a blight of potatoes