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Home International SportsNotes Take-all patch can occur during spring and fall on creeping bentgrass turf. The pathogen (Gaeumannomyces graminis var avenae) infects roots during cool wet periods. If hot dry conditions follow, symptom expression is the most severe. Symptoms appear a circular patches ranging from a few centimeters in diameter (initial infection symptoms) to a meter in diameter (more perennial symptom). The patches appear a reddish-brown to orange-bronze color. Often these patches are colonized by weeds or a resistant turfgrass like Poa annua or Festuca spp.

The disease is most common on newly constructed or renovated golf courses on low organic matter, high pH sandy soils. In general the symptoms decrease in severity over time on these newly constructed or renovated sites in 5 to 9 years.

Cultural Management Suggestions * If soil pH is high (>6.5) gradually try to reduce the pH through the use of acidifying fertilizers

* If possible, minimize the use of alkaline types of topdressing material.

* Maintain a balanced soil fertility level. Manganese deficiency can greatly enhance take-all patch.

* Minimize any moisture stress to the infected area. Moisture stress appears to enhance symptom expression.

Chemical Control

Fungicides have been proven to provide effective control. To maximize control, use fungicides in combination with good cultural practices and use them preventatively prior to observing symptoms. Various fungicides are labeled in the United States for Take-all control including some found in the classes of sterol inhibitors, the stroblurins, and benzimidazoles.

Supplimental Information: Additional information on the fungicides mentioned can be found in the publication Families of Fungicides for Turfgrass

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Posted by Karl Danneberger