The New Zealand scientist Kathleen Maisey Curtis also studied Synchytrium endobioticum for her doctoral thesis that, in 1919, resulted in her being recognised as producing groundbreaking research on the organism's pathology.

In spring, at higher temperature and moisture, overwintering sporangia germinate to release motile zoospores which infect suitable host epidermal cells.

In autumn, the warts rot and disintegrate, releasing new thick-walled resting spores of the fungus into the soil.

S. endobioticum originates from the Andean region of South-America, with almost worldwide distribution in areas where potatoes are cultivated (absent in most of tropical Africa, Middle East, most of Canada, Japan and Australia).

[8] The resilient nature of the resting spores, the overwintering sporangia, is the principal challenge in managing the disease.

[12] Despite these challenges, legislative action has been taken that leverages the use of resistant varieties and has effectively curtailed the spread of potato wart.

This action enforces the demarcation of contaminated plots and safety zones and the disposal of infected potato material.

[13] However, recent genome sequencing and annotation of S. endobioticum has shed light on the potential molecular mechanisms of pathogenesis.

[14] For example, this analysis demonstrated the coding capacity of S. endobioticum to process complex sugars, which may include cellulose and starch.

The lack of hemicellulases may allow the pathogen to evade defense responses triggered by damage-associated molecular patterns from cell wall degradation.