You Are Here: Management Updates 2000 Archive April 1, 2000

Date: April 1, 2000
Category: Diseases
Subject: Fusarium Patch, Basal-Rot Anthracnose, Fairway Turf

Disease problems vary widely depending on the area. The recent rains have enhanced the activity of Fusarium patch (pink snow mold) at higher elevations and in northern areas. Please submit active samples to UMass for the snow mold research project. Most areas of Typhula blight (gray snow mold) are recovering nicely.

There are some reports of basal rot anthracnose. This can be identified by pulling plants straight up and looking for the charcoal black fungal structures in the crown. This disease is caused by the same fungus that causes the hot weather version, and many of the same practices apply: avoid spreading the sticky spores, add a little N to enchance recovery, improve drainage, relieve compaction, divert traffic. The more difficult aspect is the slow or now recovery from badly infected plants despire fungicide application.

A number of golf courses are struggling to decide whether to stay with perennial ryegrass fairways or switching to bluegrass or bentgrass. The current issue (March/April) of the USGA Green Section Record has an article that includes a table of gray leaf spot reactions among many ryegrass cultivars. When combined with N moderation, keep the leaves dry, fungicide protection, picking up clippings during disease outbreaks, the choice of cultivars with disease tolerance may make staying with perennial ryegrass an acceptable option, especially in mixed roughs.

Overall, things are greening up and most areas are doing well.

- Submitted by: Dr. Gail Schumann