Bermudagrass Stress

One of the things that I have learned from traveling in sub-tropical and tropical areas is that under low light wet conditions bermudagrass is in trouble. During warm to high temperatures, cloudy skies, usually associated with rainfall, bermudagrass quality rapidly declines. The problems that I seem to encounter are "Root Decline" of warm season turfgrasses, originally known as bermudagrass decline (pathogen: Gaeumannomyces graminis var graminis), curvularia (pathogen: Curvularia spp.), and nematodes (various species). In general, none of the hybrids seem tolerant to these problems when conditions are favorable for pathogen or nematode development. These biotic stresses are difficult to identify and need to be confirmed by diagnostic laboratories if the problems persist.

Photographs: The top photograph is bermudagrass decline on a 'Tifeagle' bermudagrass green and surrounds in Australia (taken a few years ago). The middle photograph is from Mark Ecott, contruction superintendent who is currently working in Malaysia. The photograph is root decline (bermudagrass decline) on bermudagrass. The photograph was taken December 2007 during a warm cloudy rainy period. The bottom photograph is Curvularia on an ultradwarf green in Dubai, UAE. Diagnosis confirmed by Kate Entwistle.