potato mold
Học thuậtThân thiện
Definition
Noun 1. A plant disease affecting potatoes: Specifically, "potato mold" refers to a fungal or oomycete infection that causes decay and blight in potato plants and tubers. This term is often used synonymously with "potato blight," most famously the late blight caused by Phytophthora infestans. - The farmer's entire crop was lost to potato mold. - Wet, cool weather can encourage the spread of potato mold.
Usage Notes
- "Potato mold" is a compound noun. The primary term being defined and explained here is the specific phrase "potato mold" itself, referring to the disease.
- It is typically used in agricultural, botanical, or historical contexts.
- It is often treated as an uncountable noun when referring to the disease in general, but can be countable when referring to specific instances or types.
Examples
- The Great Famine in Ireland was triggered by a devastating outbreak of potato mold.
- Gardeners must be vigilant to prevent potato mold from ruining their harvest.
- This variety of potato has some resistance to potato mold.
Advanced Usage
- Historical Context: The term is heavily associated with the Irish Potato Famine (1845-1852), where "potato mold" (late blight) led to widespread crop failure.
- The history book described the social impact of the potato mold.
- Scientific Description: In plant pathology, it describes the symptomatic appearance of the disease.
- Under the microscope, the pathogen responsible for potato mold was identified.
Variants and Related Words
- Potato blight: The more common technical and general term for the same disease.
- Late blight: The specific name for the disease caused by .
- Blight (noun): A general term for any plant disease that causes withering and death without rotting.
- Mold (noun): A growth of fungi, often furry, on the surface of organic matter. (Note: While "mold" is a component, the phrase "potato mold" has a specific meaning beyond just any fungal growth on a potato).
Synonyms
- Potato blight
- Late blight (specific)
- Potato disease
Related Phrases/Idioms
There are no common idioms or phrasal verbs using the specific compound term "potato mold."
Noun
- a blight of potatoes