Brown Patch - the silent killer
Disease control is a greater challenge for many turf managers as they seek to reduce pesticide use while wanting to deliver the best playing quality and visual appearance.
As climate change brings more hot and humid weather especially in the summer, the severity and geographic range of fungal diseases are increasing
This is something that groundsmen in Europe are currently experiencing also during summer renovation
During summertime one disease, Brown patch, in particular needs special attention in order to avoid being caught by any unpleasant surprises and a risk of losing the entire pitch.
Brown patch is a turfgrass foliar disease caused by Rhizoctonia spp. The fungus can attack all cool season turfgrasses, but is most devastating to perennial ryegrass, bentgrass and tall fescue. We have seen examples that Brown patch has caused serious damage in connection with summer renovations of sports pitches i.e., in the UK. In the worst-case scenario, all grass on the new established pitch can be lost and sowing must be repeated which postpones the time at which the pitch is ready to play. Unfortunately, this new disease is not evaluated in the national tests around Europe. Fortunately screening for brown patch outside the national lists demonstrate clear differences in tolerance among perennial ryegrass varieties.
As seed suppliers we are obliged to take these challenges of tomorrow seriously and offer solutions that provide turf managers with the most Brown patch tolerant varieties in order to have an increased peace of mind during summer renovation and reduce the reliance on fungicides. Read the article here and learn more about brown patch tolerant turf grass here.