Integrated protection strategies for potato late blight

Modern control of potato late blight, caused by the pathogen Phytophthora infestans, is shifting toward a five-layer integrated protection model. This approach moves away from relying solely on successive fungicide treatments toward a system that combines genetic resistance, biostimulants to maintain plant robustness, biological elicitors for additional defense mechanisms, approved fungicides for direct pathogen control, and precise intervention guided by forecasting and monitoring.

This strategy addresses European agricultural challenges, including a reduction in available active substances, the emergence of resistance to certain modes of action, and the necessity of reducing chemical pressure. The concept emphasizes a transition from biological transition to biological addition, where biological solutions complement rather than simply replace chemical treatments.