Technical


challenges to manage and control. If we look at the most common disease on golf


courses, Microdochium Patch (Fusarium), for example, we will typically find resting spores in the thatch; spores deposited on the leaf surface by wind or rain splash; recently germinated spores growing mycelia and seeking an entry point into the leaf and, if we cut into and look inside the leaf, hyphae working through the leaf cells that will sap energy from the plant and cause damage as it develops. Where disease goes unchecked, either by the


plant’s own defence mechanisms or a fungicide treatment, we may even see it completing its life cycle and breaking out through the leaf surface to release more spores - often resulting in serious loss of turf quality. We face the challenge of these dynamic disease


Syngenta Turf Technical Manager, Marcela Munoz, highlights the challenges of dynamic disease populations within turf surfaces, and the role of the new Instrata Elite fungicide to tackle infection outside and in the leaf


A


s turf mangers, we strive to produce the most consistent playing surfaces possible, which perform the same day in-day out. However, turf is a living organism, subject to a whole host of


outside influences that act on each individual plant that conspire to create variability and differences. The skill of the greenkeepers and groundsmen


is to use all their knowledge, experience and available tools to manage the outside influences as well as possible to mitigate their effects. It’s a constantly changing and shifting balance. Furthermore, the disease pathogens that attack


turf are equally dynamic, affected by variable outside factors and at different stages of development during any infection. In the laboratory, or under strict trials


conditions, we can focus on disease at specific points in its life cycle and development. In the field, however, all disease populations will be at various stages and offer us considerably difficult


populations, which dictates the way we can manage the turf. There are two key elements to how we can achieve this:


• Improving the health of turf so it is better able to withstand the effects of the disease


• Well timed fungicide applications appropriate to the stage of the disease life cycle


Turf that is damaged, weakened or stressed is


inherently more susceptible to infection and will suffer more severely from any disease attack. Cultural controls, as part of an Integrated Turf Management (ITM) programme, can have a significant impact in reducing both the risk and severity of disease, as well as helping plants to recover faster from any attack. Things to consider to enhance plant health include adequate nutrition; sufficient soil moisture; developing a strong root mass and promoting leaf chlorophyll levels. ITM will also include making conditions


unfavourable for disease, for example, improving drainage and aeration; increasing air flow and light to surfaces and the removal of thatch. However, some actions necessary for turf management could increase the risk of disease attack, such as mechanical damage during aeration, or feeding to avoid Anthracnose risk that could encourage soft leaf growth more susceptible to Microdochium infection. Also, the daily demand of players, such as low


cutting heights to improve golf green speed, physically limits the leaf photosynthetic capability and increases stress on the plant that makes it more susceptible to infection - particularly if dull blades result in tearing, rather than a clean cut. The combination of pressures from ever increasing demands on turf quality, along with


Controlling mycelium on the leaf surface prevents disease getting into the plant


Once infection is inside the leaf, only systemic fungicides with activity on growing hyphae will stop disease development


PC AUGUST/SEPTEMBER 2017 I 135


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