Researchers pin down the pathogen responsible for Ireland's potato famine

May 21, 2013 20:21 GMT  ·  By

When the potato famine hit Ireland back in the middle of the 19th century, roughly a million people lost their lives.

A team of researchers now say that they have finally pinned down the pathogen responsible for this event.

With the help of dried leaf cuttings dating back to roughly 170 years ago, the scientists discovered that the fungal disease that caused the destruction of Ireland’s potato crops in the 19th century was the so-called HERB-1 strain of Phytophthora infestans.

According to The Verge, this fungal disease arrived in Ireland via Mexico in 1845. Its spreading fairly easily in this region was due to its being exposed to a mild and yet very wet weather.

By the looks of it, the strain that need be held accountable for changing the course of history is now extinct.