The Potao Famine Gone But Not Forgotten free essay sample

The Potao Famine: Gone But Not Forgotten Essay, Research Paper A hundred and fifty old ages ago in September, 1845, the Dublin local paper # 8220 ; Dublin Evening Post # 8221 ; , reported a # 8220 ; disease in the murphy harvest # 8221 ; . This turned out to be the murphy blight which destroyed 40 % of the harvest that twelvemonth and about 100 % the following twelvemonth. The devatation was known as # 8220 ; The Great Hunger # 8221 ; and resulted in broad spread famishment and mass out-migration to Britain and the Americas. As a consequence, the population declined from @ 8,295,000 to less so 6,000,000 in a few old ages. In 1845 a fungous disease called the late blight, appeared in the Irish murphy harvest with annihilating consequences. The late blight manifests itself in any portion of the works. Discoloration of the foliages accompainied by downy mold is sometimes the first mark. The tubers may besides be infected in the feild or in storage, with stain of the tegument, with a ruddy brown dry putrefaction widening to the tuber. We will write a custom essay sample on The Potao Famine Gone But Not Forgotten or any similar topic specifically for you Do Not WasteYour Time HIRE WRITER Only 13.90 / page Later a slimy, disgusting smelling putrefaction may destruct the tuber. It is now known that the blight is caused by the fungus Phytophtora infestans an Oomycete which Bel ; ongs to the household Pythiaceae. This species is characterized by coenocytic mycelium and theproduction of biflagellate, motile zoospores. The fungus is heterothallic and can reproduce sexually in the presence of an opposite coupling type. Sexual reproduction follows fertilisation of an oogonium by an antheridium ensuing in the production of an oospore. Overwintering can be in the signifier of resting mtcelium or oospores. After sprouting both will ensue in the production of spore case which can shoot straight by agencies of a germ tubing or indirectly by agencies of the motile zoospores. Germination is followed by encystment and appresorium formation. Phytohphtora infestans besides affected potato harvests in the nor-east United States and Southern Canada every bit good as much of western Europe iin add-on to Ireland in 1845, but the effects were nowhere nigh every bit devestating as in Ireland because in those topographic points the diet was much more diversified and the people were non so dependent on the murphy. Although it happened 150 old ages ago, the Irish have non forgotten # 8221 ; The Great Hunger # 8221 ; . Because of the influence of conditions on the developement and spread of the late blight, the Irish Meterological Services continues to air warnings of conditions prefering the spread of murphy blight. Furthermore, the Irish people have gained a repute for lending forces and resources in aread of the universe presently confronting dearth, good out of proportion to the size and economic system of their little island.