Have British scientists put an end to potato blight that caused the Great Famine?

A new strain of genetically modified potato appears immune to the devastating fungus responsible for the great Irish Famine of 1845, research has shown.

Late blight, caused by the organism phytophthora infestans, remains the potato farmer’s greatest enemy to this day.

In the latest of a series of field trials, conducted in 2012, the fungus was unable to break down the defences of any GM potatoes.