We need to be looking harder today for the potential problems of the future, to fully understand their causes and to work towards identifying feasible and effective management options
research published in agricultural systems and I have seen evidence to support this in turf samples that pass through my lab.
• We can be certain that we still have a lot to learn about which nematodes are present and what type of problems they can cause. New nematodes continue to be identified in amenity situations, like the Gracilacus sp. that we have recently found on four golf courses in Portugal in putting green that are showing symptoms of severe stress. In agriculture, Gracilacus can cause serious damage to cereals but we need to confirm the problems that it can cause to fine turf.
Perhaps the most important question regarding plant parasitic nematode damage is what can be done to manage the nematode populations and the symptoms that develop as a result of their activity on and within the plant? Research is currently underway to investigate the potential of several products that could hopefully be of benefit to affected turf. Already, research has shown that both a mustard bran product (tested at the request of Headland Amenity) and a product called BioMass Sugar (tested at the request of Barenbrug UK) can produce a significant improvement to turf quality following application. At present, only the BioMass Sugar is generally available for application to turf but independent research has confirmed that this natural solution can effectively minimise the symptoms of stress and, most importantly, promote recovery in a weakened sward. Research has also shown that the use of cold-extracted seaweed products is particularly effective in alleviating stress and reducing visible symptoms on the sward that result from nematode activity. Furthermore the use of plant elicitors to ‘condition’ the grass plant to grow better under the effect of the pathogenic nematode has also shown promise in the field. According to Mark Hunt of Headland Amenity, “Successful nematode management comes down to a combined strategy involving correct identification and assessment, effective control, revised cultural practices and the use of products to provide stress reduction and enhanced growth under the effects of the plant parasitic nematodes”. Field work over the last four years has shown that employing such a combination strategy provides turf managers with an effective and environmentally acceptable approach to nematode management. As for the future, times are changing, the environment is changing (as we are constantly being told) and so too are the
potential problems that we face in day to day turfgrass maintenance. I have little doubt that with new grass types being introduced for amenity use, we will see new disease problems developing and, if we decide to look more closely to determine the cause of these diseases, nematodes will be up there as important turfgrass pathogens. That doesn’t mean the future for turf quality is on a downward spiral but that, when they occur, our turf disease problems may not be the same as those we have managed in the past. We need to be looking harder today for the potential problems of the future, to fully
understand their causes and to work towards identifying feasible and effective management options. Hopefully, disease problems will be few and far between on the turf areas that you manage but should the symptoms develop, try to keep an open mind as to their likely cause.
Acknowledgement: I would like to extend my sincere thanks to Dr Colin Fleming and his team at AFBI Northern Ireland for their invaluable support and assistance in my work on plant parasitic nematodes.
Dr. Kate Entwistle, The Turf Disease Centre Email:
kate@theturfdiseasecentre.co.uk
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