Dollar spot

Abstract: In 1989, a close association was found between single-plant progenies of strong creeping red fescue infected with the endophyte Epichloe festucae and enhanced suppression of dollar spot, a widespread foliar disease of turfgrass caused by Sclerotinia homoeocarpa. From this limited observation, extensive field evaluations were conducted on a wide range of fine fescue germplasm obtained throughout the United States and Europe to determine the frequency and magnitude of this association. In five field trials established between 1985 and 1991, endophyte-infected Chewings, hard, blue, and strong creeping red fescue cultivars, selections, and crosses consistently exhibited endophyte-mediated suppression of dollar spot, when compared with closely related endophyte-free entries. Endophyte-infected Chewings and hard fescue cultivars and selections also had greater turf density and supported less foliar mycelium of S. homoeocarpa than endophyte-free entries.

Abstract: Turfgrasses have been utilized by humans for >10 centuries to enhance their environment, but the modern turfgrass industry developed primarily during the past three decades, largely in response to increased population growth and urbanization. Turfgrass culture represents an important economic component of horticulture in North America with annual expenditures of $25 to $45 billion in the United States between 1982 and 1993 (Beard and Green, 1994; Gibeault and Cockerham, 1985). In return, turfgrass provides numerous benefits, including functional (e.g., reduction of soil erosion, pollution, and noise), recreational (e.g., provision of recreational surfaces for improved health and safety), and aesthetic benefits (e.g., improved aesthetic value and community pride) (Beard and Green, 1994; Gordon et al., 1996). Because of these economic and environmental benefits, turfgrass and turfgrass health have become increasingly important. Dollar spot (Sclerotinia homoeocarpa F.T. Bennett) is one of the most important diseases that affect turfgrass; it can cause considerable damage, particularly to highly maintained golf course putting greens, closely mown fairways, and bowling greens (Goodman and Burpee, 1991). This disease can also damage less intensively managed turfgrass grown on home lawns, recreational and athletic facilities, and educational or industrial properties. Dollar spot reduces the aesthetic and playing quality of infected turf, and can contribute to weed encroachment and plant death (Fig. 1) (Smith et al., 1989). Dollar spot is a widespread disease that affects many turfgrass species throughout North America, Central America, Australia, New Zealand, Japan, the British Isles, and continental Europe (Couch, 1995; Fenstermacher, 1980; Vargas, 1994). Except for western Canada and the Pacific northwest region of the United States, dollar spot is the most common disease of turf in North America (Couch, 1995). The persistent nature of this disease in turfgrass swards often requires intensive control measures. As a result, more money is spent to manage dollar spot than to control any other turfgrass disease on golf courses (Goodman and Burpee, 1991).

Abstract: Over the past several decades, breeding cool-season turfgrasses for improved disease resistance has been the focus of many turfgrass breeding programs. This review article discusses the dramatic improvements made in breeding Kentucky bluegrass (Poa pratensis) for resistance to leaf spot (caused by Drechslera poae), stem rust (caused by Puccinia graminis), and stripe smut (caused by Ustilago striiformis); perennial ryegrass (Lolium perenne) for resistance to gray leaf spot (caused by Pyricularia grisea), stem rust and crown rust (caused by Puccinia coronata); tall fescue (Festuca arundinacea) for resistance to brown patch (Rhizoctonia solani) and stem rust; creeping bentgrass (Agrostis stolonifera) for resistance to dollar spot (caused by Sclerotinia homoeocarpa); and fine fescues (Festuca spp.) for improved disease resistance. Historically, the dramatic improvements in disease resistance of the cool-season grasses have been attributed to traditional/conventional breeding techniques; however, it is likely that functional genomics and molecular techniques will play a more significant role in the development of cultivated turfgrasses as the specific genes and mechanisms for disease resistance are identified in the future.

Abstract: Turfgrass Weeds and Their Management (T.L. Watschke) Introduction Managing Summer Annual Grasses: Crabgrasses. Goosegrass. Foxtail. Barnyardgrass. Fall Panicum. Dallisgrass. Sandbur. Managing Winter Annual Grasses: Poa annua. Managing Perennial Grasses and Sedges: Creeping Bentgrass. Tall Fescue. Orchardgrass. Timothy. Smooth Brome. Quackgrass. Nimblewill. Bermudagrass. Zoysiagrass. Nutsedge. Rescuegrass. Managing Summer Annual Broadleaf Weeds: Oxalis. Knotweed. Spotted Spurge. Purslane. Prostrate Pigweed. Lambsquarters. Puncturevine. Ragweed. Carpetweed. Kochia. Florida Pusley. Sow Thistle. Brass Buttons. Managing Winter Annual Broadleaf Weeds: Common Chickweed. Henbit. Shepherd's Purse. Corn Speedwell. Bedstraw. Dog Fennel. Peppergrass. Managing Biennials: Yellow Rocket. Wild Carrot. Black Medic. Managing Perennial Broadleaf Weeds: Wild Garlic. Dandelion. White Clover. Plantain. Buckhorn. Mouse-Ear Chickweed. Mallow. Ground Ivy. Sheep Sorrel. Canada Thistle. Chickory. Curly Dock. Bull Thistle. Healall. Ox-Eye Daisy. Hawkweed. Thyme-Leaf Speedwell. Creeping Speedwell. Violet. Stitchwort. Bindweed. Bellflower. Cinquefoil. Yarrow. Moss. Betony. Beggarweed. Bur Clover. English Daisy. Oxalis (Creeping). Weed Management IPM References Turfgrass Diseases and Their Management (P.H. Dernoeden) Introduction Monitoring Disease and Establishing Thresholds Relationship of Environmental Conditions and Cultural Practices to Disease Biological Control of Turfgrass Diseases Winter Diseases: Pink Snow Mold or Fusarium Patch. Gray Snow Mold or Typhula Blight. Yellow Patch or Cool Temperature Brown Patch. Low Temperature Pythium or Snow Blight. Diseases Initiated in Fall or Spring that May Persist into Summer: Red Thread and Pink Patch. Helminthosporium Leaf Spot and Melting-Out. Take-All Patch. Necrotic Ring Spot. Spring Dead Spot. Large Patch of Zoysiagrass. Pythium Root Rot. Dollar Spot. Stripe Smut and Flag Smut. Powdery Mildew. Anthracnose. Ascochyta and Leptosphaerulina Leaf Blights. Yellow Tuft or Downy Mildew. Diseases Initiated During Summer that May Persist into Autumn: Bermudagrass Decline. Brown Patch or Rhizoctonio Blight. Pythium Blight. Summer Patch. Fusarium Blight. Southern Blight. Helminthosporium Leaf Spot, Melting-Out and Red Leaf Spot. Curvularia Blight. Nigrospora Blight. Copper Spot. Fairy Rings. Superficial Fairy Ring. Localized Dry Spot. Yellow Ring. Gray Leaf Spot. Cercospora Leaf Spot. White Blight. Slime Mold. Rust. Seedling Diseases and Damping-Off. Virus Diseases: St. Augustine Decline and Centipede Mosaic Bacterial Diseases: Bacterial Wilt Plant Parasitic Nematodes Algae and Black-Layer Factors Associated with Fungicide Use: Fungicide Use in Lawn Care. Fungicide Use on Golf Courses. Types of Fungicides. Fungicide Application. Turfgrass Insect and Mite Management (D.J. Shetlar) Goal of Insect and Mite Management in Turf: Pest Identification. Pest Life Cycles. Turf, A Unique Habitat. Monitoring. Selecting Appropriate Controls. Leaf and Stem Infesting Insect and Mite Pests: Bermudagrass Mite. Clover Mite. Banks Grass Mite. Winter Grain Mite. Greenbug. Sod Webworms (Lawn Moth). Cutworms and Armyworms. Other Turf Infesting Caterpillars. Stem and Thatch Infesting Insect and Mite Pests: Chinch Bug and Hairy Chinch Bug. Southern Chinch Bug. Twolined Spittlebug. Rhodesgrass Mealybug. Bermudagrass Scale. Billbugs. Annual Bluegrass Weevil. Cranberry Girdler. Burrowing Sod Webworms. European Cranefly or Leather Jacket. Frit Fly. Thatch and Root Infesting Insect and Mite Pests: Mole Crickets. Ground Pearls. White Grubs. Black Turfgrass Ataenius. Asiatic Garden Beetle. European Chafer. Green June Beetle. Japanese Beetle. Northern Masked Chafer. Southern Masked Chafer. Oriental Beetle. May and June Beetles, Phyllophaga. Nuisance Invertebrate, Insect, and Mite Pests: Earthworms. Slugs and Snails. Spiders and Tarantulas. Chiggers. Ticks. Sowbugs and Pillbugs. Centipedes. Millipedes. Earwigs. Bigeyed Bugs. Leafhoppers. Ground Beetles. Rove Beetles. Fleas. March Flies (Bibionids). Ants. Fire Ants. Cicada Killer. Nuisance Vertebrate Pests: Common Grackle. Starling. Redwinged Blackbird. Moles. Pocket Gophers. Skunks and Civet Cats. Raccoon. Ninebanded Texas Armadillo. References. Index