potato mildew
- noun
- /pəˈteɪtoʊ ˈmɪldjuː/
- Specialized
:
mildiú de la papa
- The crops suffered extensive damage from potato mildew during the unusually damp summer.
Examples
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Applying fungicides early in the season can help control the spread of potato mildew.
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Farmers monitor their fields closely to prevent outbreaks of potato mildew.
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The farmer discovered potato mildew in his crop.
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Many farmers struggle with potato mildew each season.
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Farmers monitor their potato plants for signs of potato mildew to protect their harvest.
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The potato mildew outbreak resulted in significant losses for local farmers this year.
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To combat potato mildew, agricultural experts recommend rotating crops each season.
Synonyms
17
2.9
A thin white fungus that grows on damp plants, cloth, or walls
A disease caused by a fungus that makes potatoes rot in fields
A plant disease that makes fuzzy, pale patches on leaves and stems
A plant disease caused by a fungus that attacks crops like grapes, potatoes, and melons
An illness that makes potato leaves yellow and tubers rot
How Harmful
- Specialized
- Specialized
7
7.3
- Specialized
- Specialized
5
3.1
- Specialized
1
6.5
Surface Forms
Morphology
The phrase is compositionally clear: 'mildew' names a fungal/whitish growth and 'potato' specifies the host, so a learner who knows both words can infer it refers to mildew affecting potato plants. Host+disease noun compounds are common and follow a regular English pattern, making the meaning immediately accessible to B1 learners.
Etymology
Potato mildew names what farmers saw: potato plants covered in a soft, white or grey fuzzy growth called mildew. Because that fuzzy growth is a disease that makes leaves and potatoes rot, the term now means 'a disease that damages potato plants'.