Plant diseases are known from times preceding the first writings of mankind. Fossil evidence indicates that plants were affected by disease 250,000,000 years ago. The Bible and other early writings mention diseases, such as rusts, mildews, blights, and blast, that have caused famine and drastic changes in the economy of nations since the dawn of recorded history. Other plant-disease outbreaks with similar far-reaching effects in recent times include potato late blight (Phytophthora infestans) in Ireland (1845-60); Sigatoka leaf spot (Mycosphaerella musicola) and Panama disease (Fusarium oxysporum form species cubense) in Central America (1900-65); powdery and downy mildews (Uncinula necator and Plasmopara viticola) of grape in France (1851 and 1878); coffee rust (Hemileia vastatrix) in Ceylon (starting in the 1870s); Fusarium wilts of cotton and flax (Fusarium oxysporum form species vasinfectum and F. oxysporum form species lini), southern bacterial wilt of tobacco (Pseudomonas solanacearum--early 1900s); black stem rust of wheat (Pucinia graminis tritici--1916, 1935, 1953-54); and southern corn-leaf blight (Helminthosporium maydis--1970) in the United States.
