Additional Research Summaries
PENTHIOPYRAD FUNGICIDE (VELISTA) New Fungicide Option for the Industry Virginia Tech Researcher: David McCall, Research Associate, Turfgrass Pathology, Dept. of Plant Pathology, Physiology and Weed Science Sponsor: DuPont Professional Products
Control of anthracnose basal rot with Velista.
The
turfgrass industry should have a new fungicide product available sometime in the coming year. DuPont is expected to release penthiopyrad (DPX LEM 17) under the trade name Velista. This fungicide belongs in the same class as flutolanil (Prostar) and boscalid (Emerald). Penthiopyrad’s unique feature is that it has activity against a wider range of turf pathogens than either flutolanil or boscalid. Flutolanil is highly effective for management of basidiomycete fungi (brown patch, fairy ring and red thread). Boscalid is used primarily for controlling dollar spot, and it has virtually no activity against basidiomycetes. Penthiopyrad,
on the other hand, has activity against both of these groups and more. This product has been tested extensively at Virginia Tech for several years. Activity against three of the most common turf diseases (dollar spot, brown patch and anthracnose) compares favorably with common standards, with no reported phytotoxicity. Control of summer patch looks promising, although little data is available at this time. Since this is a single-site mode of action, resistance will almost assuredly arise in the future. The most effective way to address this is rotation with different classes of fungicides, such as the DMI or strobilurins (QoI), and/or tank mixture with a contact fungicide.
METHIOZOLIN, A NEW HERBICIDE FOR Poa Annua CONTROL ON GOLF PUTTING GREENS Virginia Tech Researchers: Shawn D. Askew, Ph.D., Associate Professor, and Brendan McNulty, Graduate Student, Turfgrass Weed Science, Dept. of Plant Pathology, Physiology and Weed Science Sponsors: The Virginia Turfgrass Foundation and The Virginia Agricultural Council
M
ethiozolin (MRC-01) is a new herbicide that was recently registered for use on golf putting greens in South Korea. This herbicide was first sprayed in the U.S. by Dr. Shawn Askew at Spotswood Country Club near Harrisonburg, VA. For the past two years, only Virginia Tech and Auburn University have evaluated methiozolin, and results have been astounding. Last fall, researchers at other universities began evaluating
this herbicide, and it has performed well across the U.S. Methiozolin kills annual bluegrass (Poa annua), crabgrass, goosegrass and roughstalk bluegrass, and it is safe for use on creeping bentgrass putting greens and all other species of cool- and warm-season turf. Dr. Askew was invited to a pre-submission meeting with the U.S. EPA last June, and methiozolin will probably be available for U.S. markets as early as 2013 or 2014. It will be primarily
26 | VIRGINIA TURFGRASS JOURNAL May/June 2011 www.vaturf.org
used on golf putting greens. In the future, the herbicide may be used on fairways or lawns for control of annual bluegrass or roughstalk bluegrass. Moghu Research Center, the Korean company that is developing this herbicide, has agreed to send $98,000 in research funding to Dr. Askew to partially support a Ph.D. student that will work on understanding the mode of action and mechanism of selectivity of methiozolin starting in spring 2011.