11/19/2013

1

19 November 2013

Turfgrass Diseases For Putting GreensJohn E Kaminski || kaminski@psu.edu

The Pennsylvania State University417 Ag Admin BuildingUniversity Park, PA 16802Twitter: @iTweetTurf

11/19/2013

2

11/19/2013

3

11/19/2013

4

MARYLAND TURFGRASS PATHOLOGY LABDISEASE DIAGNOSIS 2002

Other:Pink PatchRed ThreadSpring Dead SpotDollar SpotLeptosphaerulina BlightBentgrass Dead SpotYellow PatchMitesSouthern BlightBrown PatchFairy RingMicrodochium Patch

Gray Leaf Spot6% Take All Patch

5%

Helminthosporium4%

Pythium Blight3%

Summer Patch3%

Bacterial Wilt3%

Rhizoctonia zeae3%

Root Pythium3%

Other12%

Negative For Disease

44%

Anthracnose Basal Rot14%

Monteith and Dahl, 1932

“The constantly rising standard of excellence in the maintenance of golf turf continually confronts the 

greenkeeper with new problems…The artificial condition of growth to which turf has been subjected on golf 

courses undoubtedly increased the damage caused by turf diseases.  At the same time, the improvements in turf have tended to make the modern golfer far more critical and have increased the demand for turf of 

quality kept free at all times from any damage caused by disease or other agencies.”

TRADITIONAL APPROACHES

• General Practices

– Cultivar Selection (NTEP)

– Cultural: Topdressing, Aerification, Grooming, etc.

• Mowing Heights

– Proper Mowing Height For Species and Use

– Raise Mowing Height of Weak Putting Greens

11/19/2013

5

TRADITIONAL APPROACHES

• Fertility (balanced N‐P‐K; 3:1:2)

– Spoon‐feed During Summer

• Fungicides

– Preventive and Curative

– Rates and Application Volume

Diseases of Putting Greens

Poa annua

• Anthracnose

• Bacterial Wilt

• Brown Ring Patch

Agrostis stolonifera

• Dollar Spot

• Fairy Ring

• Take‐all Patch

• Thatch Collapse

• Snow Molds

DOLLAR SPOT

11/19/2013

6

11/19/2013

7

Cultivar Selection (Bentgrass)

• Highly Susceptible (Fairway Turf)

– Crenshaw

– Providence

– Southshore

– Independence

– T‐1

– SR1119

• More Resistant (Fairway Turf)

– Declaration

– Pennlinks II

– Seaside

– L‐93

National Turfgrass Evaluation Program (www.ntep.org)

CULTURAL FACTORS

• Nitrogen– Increased N Application Generally Believed to Reduce Dollar Spot Severity

– Organic N‐Sources Found to Reduce…But More Attributed to Total N Amounts

• Thatch– Increase Disease (Wagner and Halisky, 1981; Davis and Dernoeden, 2002)

– Decreased Disease (Golembiewski and Danneberger, 1998)

DOLLAR SPOT EPIDEMIOLOGY

• Disease Severe During Periods of…

– Warm Days and Cool Nights (WHY?)• Favor Formation of Dew

• Components of Dew Formation

– Infection Enhanced by Guttation Fluid (or 5% Sucrose) (Endo, 1966)

– Composed of Glucose, Fructose, and Sucrose (Williams, 1996)

– Dew Formed on Creeping Bentgrass Contains Leaf Fluids (~33% of Total Dew) (Williams, 1998)

11/19/2013

8

FUNGICIDES

• Commonly Used and Important Component For Managing Dollar Spot

• Preventive & Curative Control Options

• Recent Years:– Reduced Efficacy of Fungicides

– Microbial Degradation of Fungicides

– Resistance Issues

– Restrictions on Application Rates and Intervals or Removal Altogether

DOLLAR SPOT MANAGEMENT & RECOMMENDATIONS

• Early Spring Fungicide Application

– After 2nd True Mowing

• Reduce Leaf Wetness

– Mow Worst Greens/Fairways Early Morning

– Roll, Drag or Pole Turf If Not Mown

• Maintain Adequate N Fertility

– Spring Fertilization Immediately Following First Symptoms

DOLLAR SPOT MANAGEMENT

• If Low ABG Populations, Consider Paclobutrazol/Flurprimidol

• Trinexapac‐Ethyl Little Impact

• Ensure Proper Nozzle Selection and Spray Coverage (Air Induction)

• Resistance Management– Rotation of Chemical Classes

– Tank‐Mix with Chlorothalonil

– Avoid Late‐Curative Treatments (Chlorothalonil Necessary)

– Be Aware of Disease Resurgence (Fall Epidemics)

11/19/2013

9

Dollar Spot Resurgence In Crenshaw CBG, 2001

Rate % DS

Treatment oz/1000ft2 13 Aug 20 Sept

Honor 0.2 <1c 76a

Trinity 0.75 2c 70a

Banner MAXX 2.0 0c 72a

GR 140 18 12b 16b

Untreated ‐‐ 31a 9b

Applied on 2 wk interval 30 Apr – 25 Jun.

GR 140 (Bacillus sp + Fe + N) applied weekly 30 Apr – 23 Jul.

ANTHRACNOSE BASAL ROT

11/19/2013

10

ANTHRACNOSE BASAL ROT

Pathogen  : Colletotrichum graminicola

C. cereale (Clarke, 2006)

Hosts : Poa annua 

Agrostis spp.

Season : Annual Bluegrass : Mar‐Nov

Bentgrass : June‐Sept

BASAL ROT SYMPTOMS AND SIGNS

• Turf Develops Orange Leaves and Then Bright Yellow/Death

• Turf Dies In a Non‐Uniform, Melting‐Out Manner

• Must Remove Leaves and Sheaths and Look at Stem Base With Lens– No Acervuli (Black Spines) On Leaves During Early Stages of Basal Rot

– Black “Fly Speck” Cushions or a Black Water‐Soaked Rot On Stem Bases

11/19/2013

11

11/19/2013

12

11/19/2013

13

ANTHRACNOSE BASAL ROT: CULTURAL

• Increase Nitrogen Fertility ( 0.1‐0.125 lbN/Week)

• Raise Mowing Height• Light Weight Mowers and NEVER Mow When Greens Are Excessively Wet

• Solid Rollers• Avoid Abrasive Practices When Disease Is Active (esp. topdressing; vertical cutting; aeration, etc.)*

• Divert Traffic/esp. Cupping, Walk‐On‐Off

RECENT RESEARCH

• Plant Growth Regulators: Rutgers

– Influence of Seedhead Control Products

– Primo throughout the season

• Topdressing (Rutgers)

– Light and Frequent Reduces Disease and/or Increase Recovery

– Effectively Raises Mowing Heights

11/19/2013

14

ANTHRACNOSE BASAL ROT: CHEMICAL

• Outbreaks In Poa Greens May Be Uncontrollable• Preventive: 2‐3 Wks Prior To Anticipated Symptoms • Where Chronic Use Chlorothalonil/Medallion + Pen. + N

Fosetyl‐Al (Chipco/Alliete)Azoxystrobin (Heritage)Thiophanate (CL3336)DMI’s (Banner MAXX, Lynx, Trinity)Polyoxin‐D Zinc (Endorse)

• Curative: Use High Rate Of Contact + Penetrant* + NContact Again In 5‐7 Days

• Note: Biotypes Resistant To Azoxystrobin and Thiophanate Have Been Documented 

BROWN RING PATCH

11/19/2013

15

Photo Courtesy P. Gradoville, CGCS

11/19/2013

16

Photo Courtesy S. McDonald

BROWN RING PATCH

• PATHOGEN: Rhizoctonia circinata

• HOSTS: Annual bluegrass, rough bluegrass, creeping bentgrass (Japan)

• SYMPTOMS: Circular rings, darker green turf in center of ring, orange/bronze leaves

• SIGNS:  Mycelium following incubation, right angle branching, sclerotia

11/19/2013

17

11/19/2013

18

Photo Courtesy E. Ullrich

BROWN RING PATCH MANAGEMENT

• Get It Diagnosed

• Preventive Applications

– History of Disease Symptoms OR At First Onset

– ProStar, Heritage, others

• Curative Applications

– Multiple Applications

– Medallion, Endorse, Banner MAXX

• Thiophanate‐Methyl INEFFECTIVE

11/19/2013

19

THATCH COLLAPSE

THATCH COLLAPSE

• PATHOGEN: Sphaerobolis stellatus

• HOSTS: Creeping Bentgrass, Velvet Bentgrass, others?

• SYMPTOMS: Sunken Green Circular Patches (8 to 48 cm)

• SIGNS:  Mycelium in Thatch and Foliage Following Incubation

11/19/2013

20

THATCH DEGRADATION RESULTING IN

SUNKEN PATCHES

WHITE MYCELIUM IN THATCH

11/19/2013

21

SINCE THEN SYMPTOMS HAVE BEENREPORTED IN…

California

Ohio

Michigan

Montana

Pennsylvania

South Dakota

Australia

New Zealand

GENERAL SYMPTOMS DESCRIBED

• Circular Patches 18‐45 cm in Diameter With an Irregular Boarder 

– Darker Green Turf from Thatch Degradation

– White Mycelia Present on Thatch Layer 

– Orange Hue within Infested Thatch 

• Symptoms Not Limited to One Turf Species

– Warm and Cool‐Season Turfgrasses

11/19/2013

22

SPHAEROBOLUS STELLATUS

Imag

e C

ourt

esy

D.

Dav

is, P

enn

Sta

te

Imag

e C

ourt

esy

D. D

avis

, Pen

n S

tate

• White Rot Fungi• Normally Found on Mulch

• Contains Potential Enzymes to Degrade Organic Matter (Valentin et al., 2009)

Valentin, L., B. Kluczek-Turpeinen, P. Oivanen, A. Hatakka, K. Steffen and M Tuomela. 2009. Evaluation of basidiomycetous fungi for pretreatment of contaminated soil. Journal of Chemical Technology and Biotechnology 84:851-858

© Ron Wolf

11/19/2013

23

FOUND S. STELLATUS…

• Significant Reduction of Organic Matter 21%

0

0.2

0.4

0.6

0.8

1

1.2

1.4

1.6

1.8

Organ

ic M

atter  (%)

Treatments 

Organic Matter Content

Control

S. stellatus infested

A*

B

*Combined means followed by the same letter are not significantly different according to LSD test at α = 0.05.

11/19/2013

24

BIOLOGY OF S. STELLATUS

• S. stellatus Optimal Daily Growth Rate at 21‐30°C

0

0.2

0.4

0.6

0.8

1

1.2

1.4

1.6

1.8

2

5 10 15 21 25 30

Average Daily Growth Rate (m

m)

Temperature °C 

S. stellatus Growth Rate 

CA

MI

SD

THATCH COLLAPSE MANAGEMENT?

• Wetting Agent + Fungicide– ProStar/Endorse/Affirm (Limited Info)– Water‐In 0.25 ‐ 0.5”

• Topdress Routinely– Even Surface

• Mask With Fertility?

11/19/2013

25

BACTERIALWILT

BACTERIAL WILT

Pathogen :  Xanthomonas translucens

Previously X. campestris

Season :  Spring To Late Summer

Epidemiology  :  Spread By Mowing During Cool‐Wet Weather; Wounding Important; Bacteria Plug Vascular Tissue

BACTERIAL WILT CONDITIONS

• Older Poa Greens

– Reduced Mowing Heights and Intense Grooming To Improve Green Speed

– Shaded, Pocketed and/or Poorly Drained Greens Are Most Severely Affected

• Outbreaks Beginning May to June

– May Persist Throughout The Summer

11/19/2013

26

BACTERIAL WILT CONDITIONS

• Initial Outbreaks Usually Associated With Wet/Overcast Conditions

• May Abate, But Flairs‐Up Following Rain

• Injury Most Severe In Drainage Patterns, Walk‐On and Off Areas, and In The Clean‐Up

BACTERIAL WILT SYMPTOMS

• Initially Appears As Small, Orange‐Brown Spots <1 Inch With Dead Plants Eventually Developing A Tan Color

• Greens Appear Speckled or Pitted and Spots May Coalesce

BACTERIAL WILT SYMPTOMS

• Leaf Symptoms Highly Variable/Unreliable

• Usually Leaves Are Yellowed At Tip Or Lime‐Green At Base Of Lamina

• Youngest Leaves Of Some Infected Plants May Elongate

11/19/2013

27

11/19/2013

28

11/19/2013

29

BACTERIAL WILT MANAGEMENT

Cultural: Mow When Turf Is DryIncrease Mowing Height and Reduce FrequencyDedicated, Light Weight Mower (Disinfect)Avoid Grooming, Aeration, Topdressing

Chemical: Copper Hydroxide or Copper Oxychloride + Copper Sulfate Prevent Spread; They Do Not Control BW

–Weekly or After Rain– Apply at Dusk If Temperature >80F – Use A Large Water Dilution

TAKE ALL PATCH

TAKE‐ALL:  SITES AND CONDITIONS

• SITES – Agrostis spp. Only

– New Golf Courses/Virgin Woodland

– Methyl Bromide & Other Fumigants/Renovation

– Rebuilt Greens, Tees/Sand Rootzones

– Imported In Sod

• CHRONOLOGY

– First Year Following Seeding—Few If Any Patches

– Second‐Third Year—Severe/Esp. Summer

– Third‐Sixth Year—Decline Often Begins**Decline dependent greatly on soil and irrigation water pH

11/19/2013

30

TAKE‐ALL: SYMPTOMS

• Circular Patches 3.0” to 3.0’ In Diameter– Appear in Spring or Summer

• Occasionally Frog‐Eyes, Small Crescents, and Diffuse Areas 

• Active Infections Reddish Brown – Damaged plants Fade to a Bleached Tan

– Yellow Patches May Develop During  The Decline Phase

• Little Root Hold; Dead Plants Peel Off Surface

11/19/2013

31

TAKE‐ALL: SIGNS

• Inspect Roots For Signs of Pathogen

–Discolored Vascular Cylinder–Mycelial Mats 

–Simple Hyphopodia

–Runner Hyphae–Black, Flask‐Shaped, Beaked Perithecia (Fruiting Bodies with Spores)• Vary Rare in Nature (Importance Unknown)

11/19/2013

32

TAKE‐ALL DECLINE

• Generally, Take‐All Declines (TAD) Within 3‐5 Years After it First Appears

• In Wheat, TAD Was Linked to a Buildup of Antibiotic‐Producing Fluorescent Pseudomonas spp. and Other Bacteria

• Root Colonizing Bacteria Inhibit Growth of the Pathogen on Root Surfaces (i.e. Antagonism) and Eventually Bring About TAD

11/19/2013

33

TAKE‐ALL: MANGANESE

• Mn Increases the Plant’s Resistance Mechanisms by Increasing Synthesis of Phenolic and Ligneous Compounds

• These Compounds May Serve As Chemical Barriers in Plants (Increased Resistance in Wheat)

• High pH Soils = Rapid Oxidation of Mn 

• Low pH Soils = Increase Mn Availability = Reduced Take‐All Severity

TAKE‐ALL: CULTURAL MANAGEMENT

• No Known Highly Resistant Cultivars

• Acidify Soil – pH 5.2‐5.5 Upper 1.0”– Ammonium Sulfate:  3.0 lb/1000ft2/yr– Sulfur: Potentially Phytotoxic– Acid Injection of Irrigation Water

• Apply N + P + K (3:1:2) According to Soil Test– Esp. Where P < 50 lb/A 

• Manganese Sulfate– 0.9 to 1.8 lb/Mn/A/Month (6 to 8 lb/Year)– Avoid Alkaline Reacting Materials

• Lime (Granular Only If Needed), CaNO3, KNO3, NaNO3

TAKE‐ALL: PUTTING GREENS

• Increase Mowing Height and Reduce Frequency

• Replace Grooved With Solid Rollers

• Syringe Frequently / Hand Watering

• Stop Applying Plant Growth Regulators

• Suspend Grooming Practices for Speed

– Double Cutting

– Topdressing

– Core and Water Injection Aeration

– Brushing

11/19/2013

34

TAKE‐ALL: CHEMICAL MANAGEMENT

• Fungicides Reduce TA Severity But Do Not Eliminate the Disease

• Preventive Treatment Is Best for Greens– Timing: Oct. + Nov. + Apr. + May

• Products*Azoxystrobin Propiconazole Fenarimol Triadimefon*Water In or Apply Fungicides In >100 GPA

SNOW MOLD

11/19/2013

35

Gray Snow Mold(Typhula spp.)

• HOSTS– All Turfgrass, Esp. Young

Stands

• SYMPTOMS– Circular Patches– Matted Turf

• SIGNS– Mycelium– Sclerotia (Use As Diagnostic

Aid)

• CONDITIONS– Prolonged Period of Snow

Cover, Esp. on Unfrozen Ground

11/19/2013

36

Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec

Monthly Likelihood: GSM

11/19/2013

37

11/19/2013

38

11/19/2013

39

GRAY SNOW MOLD: CULTURAL

• Use a Complete N‐P‐K Fertilizer in Autumn– Avoid Excessive Water Soluble N In Late Autumn

• Continue to Mow Autumn/ Avoid A Tall Canopy Before Snow

• Use Snow Fences and Windbreaks To Prevent Snow Drifting

• Water Soluble N In Spring Stimulates Recovery From Gray Snow Mold, Which Is A Foliar Blight 

GRAY SNOW MOLD: FUNGICIDES*

• Azoxystrobin• Propiconazole • Others?

*It Is Too Late To Apply A GSM-Targeted Fungicide In Spring; Gray Snow Molds Should Be Treated Preventively Before Snowfall

Microdochium Patch/Pink Snow Mold/Fusarium Patch

(Microdochium nivale)

• HOSTS– All Turfgrass: Especially

Seedlings, ABG, CBG, PRG

• SYMPTOMS– Spots or Patches

– Copper/Reddish-Brown

• SIGNS– Sporodochium

– Crescent Shaped Conidia

• CONDITIONS– Autumn to Spring

– Cool and Moist Weather

– Snow Cover Not Needed

11/19/2013

40

Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec

Monthly Likelihood: PSM

11/19/2013

41

11/19/2013

42

MICRODOCHIUM PATCH MANAGEMENT

CULTURAL:• Use a Complete N‐P‐K Fertilizer in Autumn

– Avoid Excessive Water Soluble N In Late Autumn• Continue to Mow Autumn/ Avoid A Tall Canopy Before Snow

• Do Not Mow When Wet, Spores Can Move

FUNGICIDES:• Begin Applications Prior to Cold and Wet Weather Where Chronic

• Tank‐Mix Iprodione With Chlorothalonil • Propiconazole/Strobilurins

FAIRY RING

11/19/2013

43

Courtesy of Steve Isaac

11/19/2013

44

turfgrass

thatch

soil (rootzone)

Fairy Ring Fungi (Basidiomycetes)

• Wood Decaying Fungi (Prefer Lignin)

• Organic Matter

• Colonize Soil

• Colonize Thatch

11/19/2013

45

Fairy Ring Symptoms

• Type I – Kill or Injure Turf

• Type II – Stimulated Green Rings/Arcs

• Type III – Mushrooms Present

11/19/2013

46

How Does Fairy Ring Affect Turf?

– Fungus in the Soil Coats Soil Particles 

– Colonized Area Becomes Hydrophobic

– Decomposition of Organic Matter

– Release of Toxic Compounds in the Soil

– Depletion of Available N

Outside Zone

Necrotic Zone

Inside ZoneWidth of

necrotic zone.

Total ring diameter.

Outside Zone

Necrotic Zone

Inside ZoneWidth of

necrotic zone.

Total ring diameter.

Fairy ring type I symptoms – perennial ryegrass (Lolium sp.) fairway.

11/19/2013

47

0 100 200 300 400 500

NH4-N

Ins.Nec.Out.

Ins.Nec.Out.

*

NH4-N (mg•kg-1)

*

Note: mean values from two type I rings, three soil samples per zone.

Fairy ring type I – creeping bentgrass (Agrostis sp.) fairway.

347 mg/kg NH4+

5 mg/kg NH4+

11/19/2013

48

11/19/2013

49

0 100 200 300 400

WDPT – 0 cm depth (thatch/soil interface)

Ins.Nec.Out.

Ins.Nec.Out.

*

Water Drop Penetration Time (sec) – 0 cm depth

*

Note: mean values from two type I rings, three soil samples per zone.

Gordon Kauffman, Ph.D

Fairy Ring Management

• Cultural Management Practices/Strategies

• Chemical Options

11/19/2013

50

11/19/2013

51

Fertility

11/19/2013

52

Chemical Options

Chemical Options

• Cultural Practices (Aeration, Spiking)

• Surfactants

• Fungicides

• Post Irrigation

Fungicide/Surfactant Program

• Cultural Practices

– Aerify

– Irrigation/Wet Soil

• Apply Soil Surfactant

– Alleviate Hydrophobic Soils

– Prior to or With Fungicide

11/19/2013

53

Fungicide/Surfactant Program

• Apply Fungicide

– 1000 to 1500 L/Ha Water Volume

– Post Application Irrigation (3 to 5 mm)

• Repeat If Necessary

0

10

20

30

40

Azoxy Azoxy +Rev

Azoxy Azoxy +Rev

Pyrac Pyrac +Rev

Pyrac Pyrac +Rev

Check

% P

lot A

rea

Typ

e-I

Fai

ry R

ing

800 1600 800 1600

Products: Azoxystrobin 0.75 kg ai/ha, Pyraclostrobin 0.5 kg ai/ha; Revolution 19 L/ha.FR = Agaricus.

Lolium sp. Fairway – Pennsylvania, USA, 2006.

L water/ha:

0

10

20

30

40

Azoxystrobin Revolution Azoxystrobin +Revolution

Untreated

% P

lot A

rea

Typ

e-I

Fai

ry R

ing

Products: Azoxystrobin 0.75 kg ai/ha; Revolution 19 L/ha; appl. in 1600 L water/ha.FR = Agaricus.

Lolium sp. Fairway – Pennsylvania, USA, 2006.

2 WAT 4 WAT

11/19/2013

54

FAIRY RING MANAGEMENT

• Create Openings In Soil & Drench With A Wetting Agent and Repeat As Needed

Core Aeration Pitch Fork

Spiking

• Mask With Chelated Iron In Summer

• Fungicide + Wetting Agent / 4 Wk Intervals

ProStar+Bayleton+WA

Heritage+WA

19 November 2013

Turfgrass Diseases For Putting GreensJohn E Kaminski || kaminski@psu.edu

The Pennsylvania State University417 Ag Admin BuildingUniversity Park, PA 16802Twitter: @iTweetTurf