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Glite Dictionary
potato disease

potato disease

3.6
An illness that makes potato leaves yellow and tubers rot
  • noun
  • /pəˈteɪtoʊ dɪˈziːz/
  • Specialized
translation icon : enfermedad de la papa
  • The scientist conducted research on how to prevent potato diseases caused by fungi.

Examples

  • Farmers must be aware of common potato diseases to protect their crops.

  • Cool storage temperatures inhibit rot and other potato diseases and thwart sprouting.

    Academic text (2003)

  • Proper crop rotation can help reduce the impact of potato diseases on yields.

Synonyms

potato murrain
vspotato disease
  • Archaic
9.9

A disease that kills potato plants and ruins crops

is a broader term covering any disease of this crop from various pathogens

How Severe

blight
  • Specialized
7 7.3
potato disease
  • Specialized
3.6
plant disease
  • Specialized
1 2.3

Surface Forms

potato disease singular
potato diseases plural

Morphology

potato + disease

The compound noun 'potato disease' is a straightforward compositional phrase: 'disease' applied to 'potato' denotes a disease affecting potato plants, so the overall meaning is directly derivable from the constituents. This modifier + noun pattern is cross-linguistically common and would be immediately understandable to a B1 learner who knows both words.

Etymology

Potato disease comes from the simple farming picture of potato plants getting sick. Farmers saw leaves turn yellow and tubers rot, so potato + disease became a short way to say 'a sickness that harms potato plants'.