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Scouting for Turfgrass Diseases….is That Time of the Year

1. Time to scout for gray leaf spot Gray leaf spot is a fungus disease that affects St. Augustinegrass, perennial ryegrass and tall fescue in Georgia. Hot humid summer weather and high nitrogen levels can make turf susceptible to this disease. The fungus causing the disease is Pyricularia oryzae (Magnaporthe…
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Avoidance and Management Tips for Summer Turfgrass Diseases

Gray leaf spot on St. Augustinegrass Gray leaf spot is active and causing epidemics St. Augustinegrass. The fungus Pyricularia grisea also affects perennial ryegrass and tall fescue in Georgia. However, the disease is particularly aggressive in St Augustinegrass. Hot humid summer weather and high nitrogen levels can make turf susceptible…
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Winter and early spring turfgrass disease foes

Yellow Patch (Rhizoctonia cerealis). Sporadic infections of R. cerealis (yellow patch) have been observed in ryegrass over-seeded bermudagrass turf swards and sport fields. The disease is rare in the state, but it thrives in extended periods of wet, cloudy weather. It is a cool-temperature disease (50 to 65°F). Disease development…
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SDHI fungicides and turfgrass disease control: An overview

Introduction The succinate dehydrogenase inhibitor (SDHI) fungicide class is the fastest growing in terms of new compounds produced and launched into the fungicide market in turfgrass and in agriculture in general.  This fungicide class, which inhibits the complex II of fungal respiration, is not new and was originally called carboxamide…
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It’s that time again……turf disease management tips for fall

Author: Alfredo Martinez-Espinoza, Plant Pathology Department, University of Georgia-Griffin Campus Large patch: To limit the severity of Rhizoctonia large patch on warm season grasses (especially on zoysiagrass), avoid nitrogen applications at this time. Regardless of fertility, preventive fungicide treatments may be required. The fungus (Rhizoctonia solani) becomes active when night temperatures fall…
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