Blighting

Blighting refers to the act or process of causing something to become unhealthy, damaged, or destroyed. In common usage, it describes rapid, widespread decline in plant health or in urban areas.

In plants, blight denotes diseases that cause rapid, often complete necrosis of tissues. Notable examples: potato blight (Phytophthora infestans), which caused the Irish Potato Famine; late blight vs early blight. Chestnut blight (Cryphonectria parasitica) led to the decimation of American chestnut; Dutch elm disease crippling elm populations. These diseases are usually spread by spores through water or vectors and can destroy foliage, stems, and tubers.

Urban blight: In cities, blight describes decay in buildings and neighborhoods, including abandoned properties, derelict infrastructure, crime, and loss of investment. It is used in urban planning to identify areas for redevelopment or condemnation, sometimes through eminent domain.

Other contexts and dynamics: Blighting can result from disease, infestation, environmental stress, or economic neglect. It may spread through ecosystems, affecting biodiversity and food security. Management includes surveillance, sanitation, resistant varieties, urban renewal, and policy interventions.