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UNDERSTANDING TURF DISEASE: BEST PRACTICES & CONTROL METHODS
by Doug Cherry, Synatek Solutions
The Spring 2023 Season is well under way and it is that time of year to consider Turf Diseases on the properties that you maintain.
As Turfgrass Managers it is extremely important to be aware of the basic fundamentals when dealing with a Turf Disease.
A Plant Disease is defined as an impairment of the normal state of a plant that interrupts or modifies its vital functions. All species of plants, wild and cultivated alike, are subject to disease.
TYPES OF DISEASE:
1. Abiotic: Non-infectious diseases are caused by environmental, cultural, and non-living things. Things causing abiotic diseases do not grow, reproduce or spread from plant to plant, meaning they are not considered contagious.
2. Biotic: Diseases caused by living organisms. They are better known as plant pathogens when they infect plants. They grow, reproduce, or spread from plant to plant, meaning that they are considered contagious.
Examples of Abiotic Factors:
• Water excess or deficiency
• Nutrient excess or deficiency
• Light excess of deficiency
• Adverse soil conditions
• Temperature extremes
• Air or water pollution
• Pesticide or fertilizer injury
• Animal damage
• Mechanical damage
Examples of Biotic Factors:
• Fungi: Most turfgrass diseases are caused by these simple microbial plants.
• Virus: Usually divert normal growth processes into abnormal ones.
• Parasite: Most pathogens are parasites that obtain nutrients from the Host Plant.
• Obligate Parasite: Survive only on a live host or living tissue.
• Saprophyte Parasite: Survive only on dead organic matter.
To gain more knowledge on this subject it is important to understand the function of:
