Dollar Spot

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Dollar spot (Sclerotinia Homoecarpa) is considered the most prevalent turfgrass disease in North America, particularly on golf course greens and fairways (Charbonneau, 2010). Dollar spot produces round patches the color of straw ranging from 2-6 inches on closely mowed turf. In the early morning, when the grass is covered with dew, there might be a cob-web like growth seen on the leaves of the turf. In the early stages of the disease, leaves develop tan spots and bands which are in the shape of an hour glass in the middle of the leaf (Duble, 2006). The spots can grow to form large, irregular areas on the turf that can eventually blanket a green. The fungus survives as masses of mycelia called sclerotia or stromata on plants or in the thatch during unfavorable weather conditions (Bonos, 2011). The mycelium starts growing from the thatch onto wet leaf surfaces to cause the initial infections (Charbonneau, 2010). Plant tissue infected with dollar spot can be carried by numerous objects such as golf cars, mowers, golf shoes. The disease attacks the foliage and crown of the plant, but the rhizomes and stolons remain uninfected (Krause, 2005).

Cultural control of dollar spot

Cultural control of dollar spot has major success if completed properly. A couple cultural practices that promote healthy turf are: removing excess thatch, mow frequently at recommended heights, and aerate compacted soils (SLJ, 2009). Removing excess thatch can be accomplished a couple of ways such as; by using a vertical mower or by using a power rake. Aerating the turf will help with soil compaction while topdressing will help with drainage (Wong 2009). Mow the turf at recommend height without removing more than 1/3 of leaf surface area in one mowing (Pigati ...

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Bonos, Stacy. 2011. "Gene Action of Dollar Spot Resistance in Creeping Bentgrass." Journal of Phytopathology 159.1: 12-18.

Burpee, Lee, and Richard Latin. 2008. "Reassessment of Fungicide Synergism for Control of Dollar Spot." Plant Disease 92.4: 601-06.

Pigati, Dernoeden, Grybauska, and Momen. 2010. "Simulated Rainfall and Mowing Impact Fungicide Performance When Targeting Dollar Spot in Creeping Bentgrass." Plant Disease 95.4: 596-603.

Putman, Alexander, Geunhwa Jung, and John Kaminski. 2010. "Eographic Distribution of Fungicide-Insensitive Scierotinia Homoeocarpa Isolates from Golf Courses in the Northeastern United States." Plant Disease 94.2: 185-96.

Young-Ki, Jo, Chang Seog Won, Michael Boehm, and Jung Geunhwa. 2008. "Rapid Development of Fungicide Resistance by Sclerotinia Homoeocarpa on Turfgrass." Phytopathology 98.12: 1297-304.

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