Pythium Root Dysfunction Alert

Multiple cases of Pythium root dysfunction, caused by Pythium volutum, have been confirmed in our lab from golf courses with creeping bentgrass putting greens throughout the Piedmont and Coastal Plains of North Carolina. The warmer than usual weather conditions have warmed the soil temperatures well into the optimum range for PRD development.

If you've had problems with PRD in the past, then you should have already started your preventative program. Don't worry if you haven't, there's still time to correct this issue before summer arrives. Remember, this is a ROOT DISEASE, therefore you must WATER-IN your fungicide applications to be successful!

For more information about PRD, including specific control recommendations, click here.

The best time for fairy ring prevention is near

Average daily soil temperatures in NC on March 6, 2011

The time for preventative fungicide applications for fairy ring control will be approaching over the next couple of weeks. Based on our field research, two applications of a DMI fungicide beginning when soil temperatures reach a 5 day average of 55F provides excellent control.

If you would like to monitor soil temperatures on your own, you can do so using the NC State Climate Office Advanced Map. For sandy soils or sand-based putting greens, the average daily soil temperature will be very close to the average daily air temperature, so you don't necessarily need a website or fancy weather station. Just take the average of today's high and low temperature, and when that number is at or above 55F for 5 straight days, it's time to pull the trigger!

For more information about fairy ring, including control recommendations, click here.

Watch for winter symptoms of Pythium root dysfunction

Symptoms of Pythium root dysfunction, caused by Pythium volutum, may be expressed this time of year during dry, warm, and/or windy days. This is especially true for newer putting greens or those with low organic matter. Patch type symptoms are typical, however ring type symptoms have been observed.

This pathogen infected your root system last fall and it's those affected plants that will be the first to exhibit symptoms of drought stress. Observing these patches doesn't necessarily mean that the pathogen is currently active, however it does mean that you will have to battle this disease in late spring/early summer if you don't take preventative measures once the daily mean soil temperatures reach 50 degrees Fahrenheit this spring.

For more information about PRD, click here.