COVER STORY
A REVIEW OF
FOR THE MID-ATLANTIC SUPERINTENDENT By Cody Beckley, Graduate Student, and Joseph Roberts, Ph.D., Assistant Professor, Turfgrass Pathology, University of Maryland
Few
turfgrass diseases impact the quality of annual bluegrass putting greens more rapidly than anthracnose can. If left unchecked, this disease is capable of quickly thinning out turf stands and leaving pitted, scarred putting surfaces in its wake. Mid-Atlantic managers of annual bluegrass turf are likely to have a difficult time dealing with this stress-induced disease, due to the often ever-present summer heat and humidity of the region. Fortunately, in the last decade, university research has provided
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MTC TURF NEWS
new and updated best management practices (BMPs), including validation of new chemical control options. To assist turfgrass managers with their off-season preparations, this article will provide an overview of the pathogen, discuss critical control periods of the disease and review BMPs for optimum control. Winter months offer an excellent opportunity to plan ahead, as some of the recommendations may require a significant investment of resources, along with consistent implementation, to be most effective.
Pathogen, host, occurrence and symptoms Anthracnose is caused by the fungus Colletotrichum cereale, which can overwinter in turf or soil before infecting its grass host. While at least 13 warm- and cool-season turfgrasses are susceptible to anthracnose, annual bluegrass and creeping bentgrass are the most vulnerable. Disease distribution often occurs wherever these turf types are grown at putting green height (below 0.125"), although anthracnose can occur on higher cut turf as well.