Irish Potato Blight and Molecular Technologies
Sense the mid-18th century, when the potato was introduced to Europe, the potato has become one of the primary food sources throughout many European countries. The potato made an especially large impact in Ireland, where there were very few natural resources, the soil was unproductive, and the weather was miserable. By 1800, most of the Irish population was completely dependent on the potato as their primary food source. Unfortunately, by 1845 most of the potato crop would be destroyed, leaving Ireland physically, economically, and socially scared. (Sherman, 2008)
Throughout Irelands history, Ireland has struggle with having a strong foundation of government. After multiple kings, and queens, who did nothing for the rough economy in Ireland, English kings took control of Ireland. (Sherman, 2008) The Irish had not realized that this British conquest would be followed by one of the greatest agricultural nightmares in history.
The potato originated in what historian’s believe is Peru in the early 1500s. Spanish conquerors found the vegetable in South America, and brought it back to Europe, where it eventually reached England. By around 1590, the potato was introduced in Ireland, and Irish farmers quickly realized its potential in their cool moist soil. Before the discovery of the potato, Ireland’s crop yield was extremely \unsuccessful; do to the poor soil and agricultural variables in the area. However, it was discovered that an acre of fertilized potato had the potential of yielding up to 12 tons of potatoes with very little labor. (The History Place, 2000) By the 1800s, most of the Irish population had become dependent on the potato. Not only was it particularly successful in Irelands cool moist environment, but also it was not considered a cash crop, which Irish farmers were forced to pay unreasonable taxes on by the British government. The British government had also put British landlords in charge of all the farms in Ireland. Because of this, many of the Irish were evicted do to their inability to come up with a sufficient income for their British landlords. When these farmers were evicted, they were relocated to an area where the only crop they were capable of growing was the potato, because the soil was so unfertile. Almost all poor Irish peasants, who owned unfertile land like this, were completely reliant on the potato to feed themselves and their livestock. (Sherman, 2008) In 1845 the nightmare struck.
Small dark lesions were visible on leaflets of the plant. Brown lesions began to develop on the stems, and a brown discoloration began to develop on the surface of the potato. Reddish-brown granular markings invade the flesh, and soft rot may develop. (Fowler) After a day of noticing the disease, the dying plants gave off a horrible odor, and about 40% of the potato crop was destroyed. Farmers anxiously looked for stray potatoes, and attempted to wash away the rotted parts of the plant, but this was unsuccessful. Irish people, who were dependent on the potato, began searching for other food sources such as berries and fish, but this was not enough to fill the void of the potato crop. (Sherman, 2008)
It was later found that this disease was caused by what is commonly known now as Potato Blight. Potato Blight is a microscopic, fungus-like organism called Phytophthora infestans. This organism thrives in humid weather and rain. It contains spores that break away from infected leaves on the plant. From here, the spores are easily carried by the wind. If the spore lands on a wet leaf surface, it will begin to produces many zoospores that will swim over the leaf surface and infect the tissues of the plant. In approximately three days, the lesions become visible, and the treacherous cycle begins. Ireland’s cool moist environment was the perfect breeding ground for this environment, and it was only a matter of time before the fungus attacked. (Fowler) Ireland was also already struggling with a low standard of living, high population, and poor sanitary and housing conditions, making them more vulnerable at the time of the attack.
As the Blight took over Ireland, many Irish people began to starve to death and die. By the end of 1846 there were no potatoes left in Ireland. Malnutrition made the Irish more susceptible to disease, and many fell ill to diseases such as typhus, cholera, dysentery, and relapsing fever. Stigmas, especially by their British rulers, were made about the Irish. Many stigmas were made stating that the Irish disserved the famine, and that God caused the famine to punish the Irish for their “carnal and vicious nature”. Stigmas were also made stating that God caused the famine because he was angry about Irelands excess of people. Numerous desperate Irish people began to migrate in order to get away from starvation, disease, and social stigmas. Those who were very poor immigrated to England, and the wealthier attempted the trip across the Atlantic to Canada and America. Only a fifth of those who attempted the trip across the Atlantic survived, because of their poor health, lock of food, and unsanitary living conditions. The trip took approximately two weeks. The reason the trip was so bad was because the ships were not originally used as passenger ships, but as ships used for hauling timber and cattle. No food was provided on bored, there was no place to cook, and there were no latrines on board. Many passengers carried lice, and were infected with typhus. (Sherman, 2008)
Hunger continued for years after the famine, and the British landlords only became worse. An act created in 1849 allowed for estates in severe debt to be auctioned off to landlords solely interested in potential profit. These new landlords were even harsher on the Irish farmers working on the land, and carried out more evictions leaving many Irish farmers penniless. In 1879 the blight returned, but this time they were represented by an alliance known as the “Land League”. The league funded donations from America, and essentially helped the Irish stay away from their past misfortunes. (The History Place, 2000)
Today, the advancement of science and technology has helped to keep the plague causing bacteria under control. Unfortunately, the better we get at fighting off pathogens, the better the pathogens get at fighting us. That is why to this day scientist are working to fight infections in plants in order to feed our growing population. Recently, scientists have discovered a way to modify the genes within plants. This technique, known as CRISPR-Cas, allows scientist to add or delete genes within the plant. This is significant in the fight against pathogens such as the blight, because it allows scientist to remove the gene that makes plants vulnerable to the infection. (Finnegan, 2017) Although science has made diseases such as the blight easier to control, it is important to continue research into such disease. Pathogens continuously mutate as time goes on, and it is only a matter of time before the blight mutates, and we are unable to stop it from spreading.
References
The History Place – Irish Potato Famine: Introduction, www.historyplace.com/worldhistory/famine/introduction.htm.
The History Place – Irish Potato Famine: Introduction, www.historyplace.com/worldhistory/famine/introduction.htm.
What is Potato Blight, Fowler https://potatoes.ahdb.org.uk/sites/default/files/publication_upload/What%20is%20Potato%20Blight%20V5.pdf
The History Place – Irish Potato Famine: After the Famine, www.historyplace.com/worldhistory/famine/after.htm.
“Can CRISPR Feed the World?” Phys.org – News and Articles on Science and Technology, phys.org/news/2017-05-crispr-world.html.