In an agricultural industry striving towards reduced or even zero inputs of agrochemicals, the monitoring of the fungus Phytophthora infestans, which causes blight in potatoes, is a key aspect in the design of effective strategies for late blight management.

The main management tools are avoidance of primary inoculum via good cropping practices and quality seed, timely use of fungicides, and effective deployment of host resistance. The success of each of these options will be influenced by the nature of the pathogen population.

Data regarding Phytophthora infestans populations are entered into the EUCABLIGHT database. The more data that are collected, the more powerful the database will be.

The user manual provides information on how to upload data to the program.

The publication “ Phytophthora.exe ver 2.0. PC-program for the storage and upload of Phytophthora infestans isolate information to the EUCABLIGHT database. User manual ”, DJF Plant Science No. 15, March 2008, can be downloaded as a pdf-file or from the EUCABLIGHT website at www.eucablight.org .