Outbreaks of Mysterious Pythium Disease on Golf Courses

Outbreaks of Mysterious Pythium Disease on Golf Courses

              

       Posted by John Kaminski on 26 Aug 2016        

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This week I visited a couple of golf courses that are dealing with serious disease issues. After looking at the samples and touring the courses, I have determined that this is likely similar to what I found in the NY Met region in 2005.

Pythium mimics summer patch

In 2005, I observed some unique disease symptoms on a few golf courses that looked like summer patch. However, traditional summer patch fungicides didn’t control it. Upon closer examination our lab determined that we were dealing with a species of Pythium that was selectively taking out the annual bluegrass in mixed  bent/Poa stands. Some key info (watch the slideshare for more info):

• Patch disease caused by a Pythium species
• Symptoms are identical with summer patch (bentgrass fills in damaged patches)
• Signature programs the primary Pythium fungicide being used
• Foliar Banol or Segway is recommended for curative control (don’t water-in)
• Follow initial spray 3-5 days later with Segway or Subdue Maxx

Over the next few years we continued to talk about this problem, but it basically went away. Apparently it’s back. Here’s a slideshare of what I talked to golf course superintendents about based on the limited information we had at the time.
Our lab is now actively seeking samples of this disease in an effort to concentrate research time to identify the pathogen and find management options.