Which organism is primarily blamed for the historic Irish potato famine?
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Answer: D. Phytophthora infestans
Explanation
Phytophthora infestans is a destructive oomycete plant pathogen responsible for causing late blight of potato crops. This microorganism destroyed potato harvests across Europe and triggered the historic Irish potato famine during the 1840s. The pathogen infects leaves and tubers rapidly under cool, moist weather conditions, causing total crop devastation. Oomycetes are fungus-like eukaryotic microorganisms commonly known as water molds that cause severe agricultural plant diseases. The Irish potato famine resulted in mass starvation, widespread disease, and massive emigration from Ireland to other nations. Plant epidemiology studies historic pathogen outbreaks to improve modern crop disease surveillance and agricultural security measures.
Dinoflagellates are single-celled aquatic algae known for causing harmful algal blooms rather than potato famine blights. Kelp refers to large brown macroalgae growing in marine underwater forests rather than acting as terrestrial crop pathogens. Physarum polycephalum is a slime mold studied for intelligence and cellular locomotion rather than causing potato blights.
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