scholarly journals Seasonal Development of Dollar Spot Epidemics in Six Creeping Bentgrass Cultivars in Maryland

HortScience ◽  
2012 ◽  
Vol 47 (3) ◽  
pp. 422-426 ◽  
Author(s):  
Christopher P. Ryan ◽  
Peter H. Dernoeden ◽  
Arvydas P. Grybauskas

This 3-year field study evaluated the incidence and severity of dollar spot (Sclerotinia homoeocarpa F.T. Bennett) in six creeping bentgrass (Agrostis stolonifera L.) cultivars maintained as a golf course fairway. Comparison of area under the disease progress curve (AUDPC) data clearly indicted two resistance groups among the six cultivars. ‘Crenshaw’ and ‘Backspin’ were classified as highly susceptible (HS) and the other four cultivars (i.e., ‘Penncross’, ‘Providence’, ‘L-93’, and ‘007’) were classified as moderately susceptible (MS) to dollar spot. In all three study years, there were three epidemics that began in May. Data could not be collected in HS cultivars after the first epidemic in each year as a result of severe damage. In MS cultivars, the first epidemic ended and a second began between early July and late August. The second epidemic ended approximately mid-October and a third epidemic appeared in MS cultivars between late October and early December. The second epidemic was longest and most severe, and the third fall epidemic was least severe and of shortest duration. The first epidemic in HS cultivars developed up to two weeks earlier and progressed more rapidly and severely than in MS cultivars. A growing degree-day (GDD) model, using a base air temperature of 15 °C and a start date of 1 Apr., was accurate in predicting the onset of the first epidemic in HS (60 to 70 GDD) and MS (105 to 115 GDD) cultivars during each of the three study years. Growing degree-day models are greatly influenced by the many microclimates found on golf courses and need to be evaluated for accuracy in diverse environments.

Plant Disease ◽  
2004 ◽  
Vol 88 (11) ◽  
pp. 1269-1276 ◽  
Author(s):  
G. Viji ◽  
W. Uddin ◽  
N. R. O'Neill ◽  
S. Mischke ◽  
J. A. Saunders

Sixty-seven isolates of Sclerotinia homoeocarpa, causing dollar spot disease in creeping bentgrass, annual bluegrass, Bermudagrass, and perennial ryegrass turf, collected from 23 golf courses in various geographical regions of the United States and Canada between 1972 and 2001, were characterized by vegetative compatibility, genetic diversity, and pathogenicity. Eleven vegetative compatibility groups (VCGs A to K) were identified among the isolates tested in this study, and five of them (VCGs G to K) were new. VCG B was the most predominant group, typifying 33 isolates (51%) tested. S. homoeocarpa isolates collected from golf courses in Pennsylvania belonged to seven VCGs (A, B, E, F, G, I, and K), whereas three groups were observed in those collected from New York (B, E, and G) and New Jersey (E, H, and I). Two isolates, one each from Pennsylvania and Canada, were incompatible when paired with the tester isolates in all possible combinations, and did not fall into any known VCG. An isolate collected from Canada was compatible with tester isolates from two VCGs (C and D). Genetic analyses using amplified fragment length polymorphism (AFLP) showed the presence of two genetically distinct groups, designated as major group and the minor group. The major group included 36 isolates collected from various golf courses in the United States and Canada. Two isolates collected from bermudagrass in Florida formed a separate cluster, the minor group. Isolates that belonged to the major group were further divided into two subgroups (1 and 2). Subgroup 1 consisted of all the isolates that belonged to VCGs A, E, G, H, and I. Three of the four isolates that belonged to VCG K also were clustered with isolates of subgroup 1. Subgroup 2 consisted of all the isolates from VCG B, and one each from VCGs F and K. Pathogenicity assays on Penncross creeping bentgrass showed significant differences (P = 0.05) in virulence among the isolates. Overall, a relationship between virulence and VCGs was observed, in which certain virulence groups corresponded to specific VCGs; however, such a relationship was not observed between virulence and AFLPs. Close similarity among isolates of S. homoeocarpa collected from different locations in the United States and Canada suggests that isolates of the same genotype could be involved in outbreaks of dollar spot epidemics at multiple locations.


HortScience ◽  
2015 ◽  
Vol 50 (3) ◽  
pp. 496-500
Author(s):  
Yu Huang ◽  
John E. Kaminski ◽  
Peter J. Landschoot

Dollar spot, caused by Sclerotinia homoeocarpa F.T. Bennett, is an important disease of creeping bentgrass (Agrostis stolonifera L.) on golf courses in the northern United States. Canopy moisture in the form of dew plays an important role in the development of dollar spot and routine displacement has been shown to reduce disease severity. The use of plant growth regulators (PGRs) is a common management practice for maintaining creeping bentgrass fairways, but their influence on dollar spot is unclear. The objective of this field study was to elucidate the influence of dew removal at the time of fungicide application on dollar spot control in creeping bentgrass regulated by trinexapac-ethyl (TE). Main factors in the study included three dew removal strategies (non-treated, dew removed–mowed, and dew removed–not mowed) before the application of four fungicide treatments (non-treated, chlorothalonil, propiconazole, and iprodione). All fungicide treatments were applied once to turfgrass previously treated with TE or not treated. The presence or absence of dew at the time of fungicide application generally had no influence on fungicide performance with respect to dollar spot control. Based on the results of this study, dew removal before the application of fungicides targeting dollar spot is unnecessary. Applications of TE before fungicides reduced dollar spot severity in some cases, but reductions in symptom expression were limited and did not result in markedly improved dollar spot control.


2003 ◽  
Vol 4 (1) ◽  
pp. 5 ◽  
Author(s):  
Joon Lee ◽  
Jack Fry ◽  
Ned Tisserat

Golf course superintendents are interested in identifying ways to reduce fungicide inputs on creeping bentgrass (Agrostis palustris Huds.) putting greens. Our objectives were to evaluate the influence of the plant defense activator acibenzolar-S-methyl (ASM, Actigard, Syngenta Corp., Basel, Switzerland) and organic fertilizers on dollar spot (Sclerotinia homoeocarpa F.T. Bennett) and brown patch (Rhizoctonia solani Kuhn) in four bentgrass cultivars. Crenshaw had over 10 times the area under the disease progress curve (AUDPC) value for dollar spot compared to the cultivar L-93 in 2000. Acibenzolar-S-methyl applied at 35 g a.i. per ha every 14 days between mid-May and mid-September for two consecutive growing seasons reduced the number of S. homoeocarpa infection centers by 15% in Crenshaw, 24% in Penncross, and 29% in Providence, but had no effect on the number of infection centers in L-93. Only Sustane (Crenshaw in 2000) and Milorganite (Crenshaw and Providence in 2001) suppressed dollar spot compared to urea. The following fertilizers resulted in an increase in S. homoeocarpa infection centers: Nature Safe 8-1.3-4.2 in Crenshaw in both years, and in Providence in 2000; Nature Safe 10-0.9-6.6 in Crenshaw in both years; and Sustane with Iron in Crenshaw in 2001. All other organic fertilizer × cultivar combinations resulted in dollar spot levels equivalent to those observed in ureatreated turf. Brown patch levels were not affected by cultivar, ASM, or organic fertilizers. The defense activator ASM deserves further evaluation as a tool to reduce dollar spot-targeted fungicide inputs in creeping bentgrass. Accepted for publication 5 June 2003. Published 26 June 2003.


Plant Disease ◽  
2006 ◽  
Vol 90 (5) ◽  
pp. 571-575 ◽  
Author(s):  
Richard Latin

The duration of effective concentrations of fungicides for control of dollar spot on creeping bentgrass fairways was investigated using a bioassay technique. In each of three runs of the experiment, fungicide treatments were applied once to turf in replicated field plots; then, the plots were sampled periodically over 3 weeks by removing turf plugs from the field. The sampled plugs were placed in incubation containers and inoculated with sections from a 4-day-old colony of Sclerotinia homoeocarpa growing on potato dextrose agar. After a 96-h incubation period, the extent of pathogen growth on the turf plugs was measured. Results described a precipitous decline in effective concentration for all fungicide treatments beginning 7 to 10 days after application. The fungicides were only marginally effective at 14 days after application, and none provided any disease suppression at 21 days after application. The efficacy half-life (EHL) associated with four of the fungicides (chlorothalonil, iprodione, propiconazole, and thiophanate methyl) was estimated with two models. EHL estimates ranged from 6.1 to 15.2 days depending on the fungicide and the model. This research contributes to our knowledge of the duration of effective fungicide concentrations on creeping bentgrass and can provide insight for scheduling fungicide sprays for golf course fairways.


Plant Disease ◽  
2011 ◽  
Vol 95 (11) ◽  
pp. 1433-1442 ◽  
Author(s):  
Alexander I. Putman ◽  
John E. Kaminski

Management of dollar spot (incited by Sclerotinia homoeocarpa) on golf course fairways is increasingly challenging. The objectives of this study were to determine the influence of mowing frequency and plant growth regulators (PGRs) on dollar spot severity and on the residual efficacy of fungicides for control of dollar spot. Two 4-month-long studies were conducted on ‘Putter’ creeping bentgrass (Agrostis stolonifera) maintained as a fairway at the University of Connecticut. Treatments were arranged in a three-by-three-by-five factorial that assessed the influence of mowing frequency (2, 4, or 6 days week–1) and PGRs (paclobutrazol, trinexapac-ethyl, or none) on dollar spot control by five fungicide treatments (boscalid, chlorothalonil, iprodione, propiconazole, or none). Turf was mowed in the afternoon hours to minimize the confounding effect of mowing frequency on leaf wetness duration. Treatments were initiated in the late spring of 2007 and 2008, and each fungicide treatment was reapplied only when dollar spot exceeded a threshold of five infection centers plot–1. In the absence of fungicides, dollar spot severity was reduced by 63 to 90% in plots treated with paclobutrazol and by 13 to 55% in plots treated with trinexapac-ethyl. Dollar spot severity was 23 to 50% lower in plots mown 2 days week–1 compared with those mown 6 days week–1. In cases where a significant interaction was observed between mowing frequency and PGRs, dollar spot was reduced on most rating dates in plots treated with trinexapacethyl that were mown 2 days week–1 compared with those mown 6 days week–1. Survival analysis of days until threshold was met revealed that duration of control of fungicides in plots receiving paclobutrazol were 28 to 84% longer compared with plots not receiving PGR. Duration of control by fungicides was generally similar between plots treated with trinexapac-ethyl and no PGR. In general, mowing frequency did not influence duration of control. Results from this study indicate that paclobutrazol could be used to increase the treatment interval of fungicides and that mowing frequency in the absence of dew is likely to have little influence on fungicide residual efficacy. When used without fungicides, PGRs and less frequent mowing may reduce dollar spot in situations where fungicide use is limited.


1984 ◽  
Vol 64 (1) ◽  
pp. 167-174 ◽  
Author(s):  
ROBERT HALL

In 1981 and 1982 epidemics of dollar spot of creeping bentgrass, caused by Sclerotinia homoeocarpa, proceeded in a series of steps. Each step began at a point where a decline in the epidemic rate was followed by an increase in the epidemic rate and continued until a new step began. A step in the epidemic occurred after two consecutive wet days if the average temperature for the period was at or above 22 °C or after three or more consecutive wet days if the average temperature for the period was 15 °C or greater. These weather conditions were referred to as "infection periods." In 1982, an application of Tersan 1991 (benomyl) 1 and 2 days after two infection periods provided an acceptable level of disease control as effective as that obtained from a regular preventive schedule of seven sprays.Key words: Agrostis palustris, disease control, Sclerotinia homoeocarpa, weather-timed spray


2019 ◽  
Author(s):  
R.A. Rioux ◽  
C.M. Stephens ◽  
J.P. Kerns

AbstractClarireediasp. (formerly calledSclerotinia homoeocarpa), the fungal pathogen that causes dollar spot of turfgrasses, produces oxalic acid but the role of this toxin inClarireediasp. pathogenesis is unknown. In the current study, whole plant inoculation assays were used to evaluate pathogenesis ofClarireediasp. in various model hosts and investigate the role of oxalic acid in dollar spot disease. These assays revealed that both host endogenous oxalate content and pathogen-produced oxalic acid influence the timing and magnitude of symptom development. In time-course expression analysis, oxalate oxidase and related defense-associated germin-like protein genes in creeping bentgrass showed strong up-regulation starting at 48-72 hpi, indicating that germin-like protein genes are most likely involved in defense following initial contact with the pathogen and demonstrating the importance of oxalic acid inClarireediasp. pathogenesis. Overall, the results of these studies suggest that oxalic acid and host endogenous oxalate content are important for pathogenesis byClarireediasp. and may be associated with the transition from biotrophy to necrotrophy during host infection.


Plant Disease ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 103 (4) ◽  
pp. 685-690 ◽  
Author(s):  
Hyunkyu Sang ◽  
James T. Popko ◽  
Geunhwa Jung

Dollar spot, caused by Sclerotinia homoeocarpa, is one of the most significant diseases of cool-season turfgrass on golf courses. Resistance to the benzimidazole, dicarboximide, and succinate dehydrogenase inhibitor (SDHI) classes and reduced sensitivity to the sterol-demethylation inhibitor (DMI) in S. homoeocarpa populations have been widely reported in the United States. Moreover, the occurrence of S. homoeocarpa populations with multiple fungicide resistance (MFR) is a growing problem on golf courses. The present study was undertaken to evaluate the efficacy of DMI, dicarboximide, and SDHI against a S. homoeocarpa population with MFR on a Connecticut golf course fairway from 2014 to 2016. Also, because the S. homoeocarpa population consisted of four different phenotypes with differing resistance profiles to benzimidazole, dicarboximide, and DMI, in vitro sensitivity assays were used to understand the dynamics of the MFR population in the presence and absence of fungicide selection pressures. Results indicated that boscalid fungicide (SDHI) was able to provide an acceptable control of the MFR dollar spot population. Propiconazole or iprodione application selected isolates with both DMI and dicarboximide resistance (DMI-R/Dicar-R). In the absence of fungicide selection pressures, the percent frequency of DMI-R/Dicar-R or DMI and benzimidazole resistance (DMI-R/Ben-R) isolates declined in the population. Out of the four phenotypes, the percent frequency of isolates with DMI, dicarboximide, and benzimidazole resistance (DMI-R/Dicar-R/Ben-R) was the lowest in the population regardless of fungicide selection pressures. Our first report of MFR population dynamics will help develop effective strategies for managing MFR and potentially delay the emergence of future resistant populations in S. homoeocarpa.


Plant Disease ◽  
2006 ◽  
Vol 90 (6) ◽  
pp. 807-813 ◽  
Author(s):  
Young-Ki Jo ◽  
Amy L. Niver ◽  
Joseph W. Rimelspach ◽  
Michael J. Boehm

Managing dollar spot, the most common and chronic disease on intensively cultivated turfgrass, relies on the judicious use of fungicides. The heavy use of fungicides has led to the development of isolates of Sclerotinia homoeocarpa insensitive to several classes of fungicides, including benzimidazoles, demethylation-inhibitors, and dicarboximides. In vitro fungicide sensitivity assays using single discriminatory concentrations of thiophanate-methyl, propiconazole, and iprodione were developed in this study for evaluating field efficacy of these fungicides and the prevalence of fungicide insensitivity within S. homoeocarpa isolated from golf courses throughout Ohio. Discriminatory concentrations for these fungicides were determined to be: thiophanate-methyl = 1,000 μg a.i. ml-1, propiconazole = 0.1 μg a.i. ml-1, and iprodione = 1.0 μg a.i. ml-1. Effective concentration that produces 50% inhibition (EC50) was estimated based on relative mycelial growth of S. homoeocarpa on potato dextrose agar (PDA) versus PDA amended with the discriminatory concentration of each fungicide. Field trials conducted at 3 locations in 2002 and 10 locations in 2003 revealed that the in vitro assays accurately predicted field efficacy for thiophanate-methyl. When used to screen 192 S. homoeocarpa isolates collected previously from 55 golf courses throughout Ohio, the in vitro assays revealed that 34 of the golf courses sampled had S. homoeocarpa resistant to thiophanate-methyl. S. homoeocarpa with reduced in vitro sensitivities was isolated from 18 and 1 golf courses for propiconazole and iprodione, respectively.


Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document