Solution Category - Disease Control

Disease Control

Disease. It’s the threat you don’t see coming, and when it strikes it can lay waste to your turf, shut down your course or throw a wrench in your business operation. BASF helps turf professionals protect the health of their turf with a wide-array of broad-spectrum disease management solutions that keeps turfgrass strong and resistant to disease throughout the year.

Common Turf Diseases

Disease Name: A-L

Anthracnose

Colletotrichum graminicola

Anthracnose of turfgrass is found in many areas and climates. There are two types of anthracnose: basal and foliar. The pattern of symptoms depends largely on weather conditions. Water-soaked stem lesions become dark in color and the leaf blades eventually yellow and die. The central stem can be pulled from the plant quite easily revealing a blackened base. Reddish brown lesions may occur when warm weather, dry soil and increased humidity within the turf canopy occur. Reddish brown irregular patterns on the turf may form as the disease develops. Over time, the patterns turn yellow, tan then brown. Yellowing is stress-related. The fungus, Colletotrichum graminicola, over-winters on living plant material. Stressed turfgrass, specifically annual bluegrass, bentgrass and ryegrass, are most susceptible to infection. The fungus penetrates the root, crown, and/or leaf tissue during high humidity and wet weather conditions.

 

Disease Name: M-Z

Melting Out

Drechslera poae

 

Typically found on bluegrass, melting out causes circular to elongated purplish or brown spots with straw-colored centers on leaf blades, leaf sheaths, and stems; symptoms first appear on shaded plants. The leaf spots may be widespread throughout the lawn, indicating spread by windborne spores. Crowns and roots are frequently affected with a dark brown rot. The crown-infected plants are weakened and may die in hot, windy weather, resulting in a thinning out of the turf in scattered areas. The fungus survives on infected bluegrass plants or grass debris and may be seedborne. Melting out thrives in cool (50 to 75° F), moist conditions. It is most severe on closely mowed turf and on turf with high nitrogen fertilization.

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