Fusarium Patch
Description: Fusarium patch causes patches that are yellow or reddish-brown in color and 1 inch to 6 inches in diameter. The periphery of the patches are reddish-brown or pink in color. "Smoke rings"- thin, brown borders around the diseased patches that appear only in the early morning-can occur. The patches occur in cool, wet weather. Blighting in streaks can also occur as a result of spore tracking on equipment wheels.
Fusarium patch thrives in temperatures less than 60°F and in locations that experience more than 10 hours a day of foliar wetness for several consecutive days. It also favors areas high in nitrogen fertility and low in phosphorous and potash. Fusarium patch also infects areas with slow growing conditions and heavy thatch. Microdochium nivale is termed fusarium patch when it occurs in the absence of snow cover.
Damage:
Control: Maintain balance fertility. Avoid using lime. Alkaline soils enhance disease development. Increase air circulation to speed turf's drying process. Minimize the amount of shade. Reduce thatch. Apply fungicides prior to the first snow cover of the year. Make additional fungicide applications during thaws or spring melt.
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