Polymerase chain reaction (PCR) was used to specifically detect Phytophthora infestans by analyzing the sequences of the ribosomal internal transcribed spacer regions (ITS) in the rDNA of the Phytophthora species. Based on the sequence data, PISP-1 together with the ITS3 primer were used to detect p. infestans. A single ca. 450 bp segment was observed in P. infestans, but not in the other fungal or bacterial isolates. Two factors, the annealing temperature and template DNA quantity, were investigated to determine the optimal conditions. Using these species-specific primers, a unique band was obtained within annealing temperatures of $55^{circ}C$-$61^{circ}C$ and template DNA levels of 10 pg-100 ng.