You Are Here: Management Updates 2000 Archive August 11, 2000

Date: August 11, 2000
Category: Diseases
Subject: Gray Leaf Spot, Anthracnose, Bentgrass Dead Spot, Rust

NO GRAY LEAF SPOT has been diagnosed in New England as of Friday, August 11. Samples from fairways and tees have many other leaf spot fungi active in them, but not the devastating one that causes GLS. ANTHRACNOSE continues to be a major problem on Poa annua putting greens because of the heat and excessive moisture. Some bentgrass greens are showing the reddish look of mechanical damage in the hot, wet conditions especially in the colors and the clean-up pass. The first sample of BENTGRASS DEAD SPOT arrived on August 10 from new (planted Sept. 98) L-93 bentgrass greens on the course in New York. The spots had a distinctive reddish look, unlike the straw color of dollar spot, and were very separate and distinct with the turf dead right down to the soil. Numerous fruiting bodies (pseudothecia) of the fungus could be found in the infected leaves. RUST is active in lawns. This disease is most common in areas of low fertility and compaction. It is also active in wet weather. Fungicides are not usually necessary if the grass can be encouraged to grow quickly. Then the infections will get mowed off before the rust-colored powdery spores can form.

- Submitted by: Dr. Gail Schumann