blight
Definitions
A plant disease, typically one caused by fungi such as mildews, rusts, and smuts.
A thing that spoils or damages something, especially an urban area or a person's prospects.
To have a deleterious effect on; to ruin or frustrate.
Examples
The abandoned factory stood as a blight on the otherwise beautiful landscape of the town.
A mysterious blight has destroyed nearly half of the corn crop this season.
Urban decay and poverty have become a persistent blight on the city's reputation.