Rapid blight is a new disease of cool season turf grasses that has occurred on over a dozen golf courses in Arizona. It is caused by Labyrinthula terrestris, an organism in a group referred to as the marine slime molds. A trial was conducted in fall 2005-winter 2006 to evaluate efficacy of selected fungicides for control of rapid blight at a golf course in central Arizona with a previous history of disease and high salinity irrigation water (about 5 dS/m). Plots were established in late October 2005 on a practice tee on which Bermuda was overseeded with Poa trivialis. Treatments included Insignia and Fore, alone and in combinations; elemental sulfur, potassium sulfate and potassium chloride as pre-plant applications on Bermuda; gypsum, Daconil Zn, Heritage TL, Soil Life and Soil Builder. Disease symptoms appeared immediately after the first mowing. Disease ratings at 3 weeks after first mow showed that applications of the high rate of Insignia at first mow and the pre-overseed application of sulfur gave excellent control. Moderate control was shown in applications with early applications of Fore alternated with the lower rate of Insignia, Fore alone, Soil Life, and of the high rate of Insignia combined with Fore applied as a curative at first disease. Treatments with Daconil Zn, Heritage TL, Soil Builder, and preoverseed treatments with potassium sulfate, potassium chloride and gypsum gave little or no control compared to the untreated control. At 10 weeks after first mow, treatments with Insignia and the high rate of sulfur were still effective but all other treatments were either marginal or not different from the untreated control. Results show that applications of Insignia at first mow are effective for severe early season disease, and extended intervals of Insignia applications give effective long term control. Results also show that treatments of Bermudagrass with elemental sulfur reduced disease dramatically indicating that preventive chemical applications before overseeding may be possible.

Rapid blight is a new disease of cool season turf grasses caused by Labyrinthula terrestris, an organism in a group referred to as the marine slime molds. A trial was conducted in fall 2006-winter 2007 to repeat an evaluation of efficacy of different rates and intervals of Insignia fungicide and elemental sulfur, both of which gave acceptable control in trials in 2005. The trial was conducted at a golf course in central Arizona with a previous history of disease and high salinity irrigation water (about 5 dS/m). Plots were established in August 2006 on a practice tee on which Champion 419 bermudagrass was overseeded with Poa trivialis "Laser". Treatments included pyraclostrobin (Insignia) as a preventive and as a curative, pyraclostrobin (Insignia) combined with Fore as a preventive, and elemental sulfur (DsiperSul) as a preventive. Disease symptoms appeared immediately after the first mowing. Disease ratings 15 days after first mow showed that applications of the high rate of Insignia at first mow gave excellent control. Moderate control was shown in applications with early applications of Fore combined with the lower rate of Insignia. Treatments with Insignia as a curative and with sulfur as a preventive were not acceptable.

Rapid blight is a new disease of cool season turf grasses caused by Labyrinthula terrestris. It is problematic in Arizona and ten other states in cool season turfgrasses at sites with elevated salinity of soil and/or irrigation water. L. terrestris colonizes Tifgreen bermudagrasses in the field, but causes no apparent disease. Laboratory trials have shown that as concentrations of sodium chloride in irrigation water increase, disease severity increases, and when calcium and potassium salts are used to increase salinity, disease is greatly reduced or not observed. In preliminary field assays of cool-season turfgrasses irrigated with effluent, L. terrestris was observed in laboratory cultures from non-symptomatic turfgrass. To further substantiate if L. terrestris and/or other Labyrinthula species were present in non-symptomatic turfgrass in the field and to determine if disease could be induced by increased salinity, a trial was conducted at the Karsten Turfgrass Research Facility of The University of Arizona. In August 2006, field plots were established in bermudagrass "Tifway 419" and overseeded with Poa trivialis "Laser" in October. Plots were treated with potassium chloride, potassium sulfate or sodium chloride salts to increase soil salinity. Other plots treated with fungicides that are ineffective in controlling rapid blight as well as a sulfur treatment also were included in the assays. Poa trivialis was sampled in December 2006 and April 200. In laboratory assays using a semi-selective medium, Labyrinthula was detected in all treatments. Incidence was significantly higher in the untreated control and fungicide treated plots than in the salt treated plots. Results show that increasing soil salinity did not induce disease or result in an increase in detection of Labyrinthula at this site. Results of this study on Poa trivialis and previous studies on Tifgreen bermudagrass suggest that Labyrinthula may be widespread in non-symptomatic turfgrasses.

Public tendency, of late, is to reduce liberal use of harmful synthesized chemicals for promoting plant health. Today, biological control is becoming a commonly cited disease control option. Biological control agents (BCAs) not only control disease , but also promote plant growth. Application of biological control is based largely on knowledge of control mechanisms employed by antagonists, as well as the means of application that will ensure that an antagonistic population is established. Knowing the advantages is not the only factor that should be considered before application commences as, the disadvantages must be clearly outlined and explored further before a constructive decision as on implementation of biological control. A literature review was undertaken to provide the necessary technical information about biological control, its potential uses, methods of application, mechanisms of action employed, advantages and disadvantages associated with biological control application, public perceptions and the potential future of biological control. Diseases encountered within the KwaZulu-Natal Midlands on pasture and turf grasses were determined by a once-off survey conducted over 1999/2000. The aim of the survey was to determine broadly the management practices of farmers and groundsmen in KwaZulu-Natal and the potential impact of these on the occurrence of weeds, insects and diseases. The survey also addressed the level of existing knowledge about biological control and willingness to apply such measures. In the pasture survey, farmers were questioned about: soil type, grass species common used, irrigation , fertilization and liming, grazing programs and weed, insect and disease occurrences and control measures implemented. The same aspects were addressed in a survey to a representative sample of groundsmen (turfgrass production) , including also: topdressing, greens base used, drainage systems, mowing practices and decompaction principles. The survey showed correlation between pest incidence and management practices implemented. In terms of pest control, both farmers and groundsmen indicated a stronger preference to the use of herbicides , insecticides and fungicides. Use of fungicides for disease control by farmers is considered an often unfeasible expense, rather more emphasis was placed on implementing cultural control methods. At present farmers do not apply biological control strategies, but they did indicate much interest in the topic. Alternatives to current, or lack of current, disease management strategies are important considerations, with two new diseases identified in the KwaZulu-Natal Midlands just within the period of this thesis. Biological control strategies are implemented by 8% of the groundsmen surveyed, with emphasis being placed on augmenting the already present natural predators rather than the introduction of microbial antagonists. Although often mis-diagnosed by farmers Helminthosporium leaf spot is a common disease in the KwaZulu-Natal Midlands on Pennisetum clandestinum (kikuyu), This disease reduces pasture quality and detracts from the aesthetic appearance and wearability of turfgrasses. Helminthosporium leaf spot is incited by a complex of causal agents , Bipolaris was confirmed as the casual agent of Helminthosporium leaf spot on kikuyu at Cedara. Disease control by two BCAs, Bacillus (B. subtilis Ehrenberg & Cohn.) and Trichoderma (T. harzianum Rifai), as commercial formulations was tested against the fungicide, PUNCH EXTRA®. In vitro, Trichoderma was shown to be aggressive in controlling Bipolaris sp. In vivo, disease control achieved with Trichoderma kd was comparative with PUNCH XTRA® but not statistically different (P>=0.05). Trichoderma and Bacillus provided better disease control in comparison to an untreated control. Improved growth of Lolium sp. was determined in vitro, with Trichoderma kd and Bacillus B69 treatments. The microbe-based treatments accounted for growth stimulation, with significant (P<=O.05) growth differences noted. A microbial activator, MICROBOOST®was added to the treatments to improve microbial efficiency. Improved plant growth with MICROBOOST® applications was shown. Improved growth associated with microbial treatments, Trichoderma harzianum kd; Bacillus subtilis B69 and Gliocladium virens Miller, Gibens, Foster and con Arx. ,was also determined in vivo at Cedara, on L.perenne L., Festuca rubra L. and Agrostis stolonifera L. Establishment of a suppressive soil with antagonistic microbes resulted in significant (P<=O.05) effects on final grass coverage (except G. virens), as well increased root and shoot lengths (P<=O.05). Increased germination rates, as expressed in vitro, were not shown in vivo. Microbial activity with the application of MICROBOOST® showed little effect on germination but increased root and shoot lengths significantly (P<=O.05). Increased weed growth associated with the treatments (except G. virens) was considered a drawback of the microbial-treatments. Microbial treatments were also applied to pasture grasses. An in vitro grazing trial was established at Cedara, using L. multiflorum L. to evaluate the microbe-based treatments Trichoderma kd, Bacillus B69 and G. virens for improved pasture establishment and for increased grazing preference by Dohne Merino sheep. Trichoderma kd was associated with increased dry and wet biomass , but lower dry matter yields in comparison to the control. Only G. virens accounted for a higher dry matter percentage than the control. However, differences between the control and the microbial treatments was very small and not significant (P>=0.05). Of the three grazing observations made, sheep showed no grazing preference to plots with or without microbial treatments In general, the body of this research has shown that microbial treatments have the potential for increased disease control and growth stimulation of grasses. However, lack of significant differences between microbial treatments and controls has raised the question as to effect of external factors on microbial activity and survival, especially in vivo. This raises the question as to the validity of the use of microbial treatments where growth conditions cannot be controlled , remembering that the cost of establishment must be covered by the economic returns from utilization. / Thesis (M.Sc.)-University of Natal, Pietermaritzburg, 2003.

No description available.

Turfgrass is subject to attack by a variety of insect pests. However, there has been no research on the sod webworm pests associated with turfgrass in Virginia and little research on habitat preferences of other insect pests of turf. The purpose of this research was to contribute to the basic knowledge of the biology of sod webworm species in Virginia. There are at least 16 sod webworm species found to occur in Virginia; all can be identified to species level by forewing color patterns. The species complex is distributed nearly evenly throughout Virginia with some species adapted to higher elevations (700m). The species complex is present from spring to late fall. The number of generations and peak flight periods differ depending on the species. Most species were sampled in low numbers except Parapediasia teterrella (Zincken). Accumulated degree-days can predict an additional years worth of occurrence of Microcrambus elegans (Clemens), Crambus lagueatellus Clemens, Pediasia trisecta (Walker) , and Agriphila ruricolella (Zeller), in the Appalachian region of Virginia. Behavior patterns of P. teterrella. M. elegans, and A. ruricolella adults indicate the utilization of shrubs instead of turfgrass as resting sites during the day. In addition, 10 species of 7 families of insects were found to inhabit tall fescue, ryegrass, and bluegrass in Virginia. / Master of Science

Please read the abstract in the section 00front of this document / Dissertation (MSc (Entomology))--University of Pretoria, 2005. / Zoology and Entomology / unrestricted

A preliminary experiment was conducted to determine the effects of salinity and moisture stress on the pathogenicity of root-knot nematodes (RKN) in turfgrass plants. The results indicated that RKN infection adversely affected both visual and functional parameters of bentgrass. Salinity and moisture stress further exaggerated the damage caused by RKN. Under well-watered conditions, the effects of SWC and RKN infection on bentgrass plants were studied. Applications of Swe at 0.5 liter ha⁻¹ and 1.0 liter ha⁻¹ effectively enhanced bentgrass growth under both RKN-free and RKN-infected condition. It was shown that RKN caused less damage to SWC-treated plants than to non-treated plants. In addition, a soil drench of 0.5 liter ha⁻¹ and 1.0 liter ha⁻¹ at 10 day intervals was required to enhance bentgrass growth under RKN-free and RKN-infected conditions, respectively. The effects of seven SWC treatments on the growth of nematode-free and RKN infected bentgrass plants were tested under three irrigation regimes. Rooting and leaf moisture parameters, quality and clipping yield were all improved to some degree by SWC applications. High dosage SWC treatments, applied as a soil drench at one liter ha⁻¹ every 10 days, were most effective in improving plant growth. Application of SWC was more beneficial to RKN-infected plants than RKN-free plants, and to abiotically stressed plants than to abiotic stress-free plants. In a separate study, seaweed application was also shown to enhance both top growth and root growth of lance nematode (Hoplolaimus galeatus) or RKN infected bentgrass grown under drought or salinity stress condition. With SWC application, almost all of the symptoms caused by nematode infection and the abiotic stress were partially overcome. In addition, root development, leaf water status and clipping yield were all improved. It was apparent that soil drench SWC treatments were more effective in enhancing bentgrass growth than foliar Swc treatments. Application of SWC slightly reduced the number of nematodes per unit of fresh root (for RKN) and per unit weight of soil (for lance nematodes). Protein extracted from SWC-treated or non-treated ryegrass plants under different stress conditions indicated that SWC altered plant protein synthesis, possibly by inducing selective gene expressions. / Ph. D.