Incidence of microdochium patch disease in golf putting greens and a relationship with arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi

Abstract

Abstract A survey of pesticide records of golf courses was conducted to ascertain the incidence of microdochium patch disease, the most important turf grass pathogen in the UK. Disease incidence has remained steady over the last 10 years, but a wide variation was found in the incidence between courses. On average, golf courses suffered more than seven separate attacks of the disease per annum, with two distinct patterns being found. In one, disease was confined to spring and autumn, while in the other, outbreaks occurred with a similar frequency throughout the year. A negative correlation was found to exist between arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) fungal abundance and disease incidence, while addition of AM fungi to a putting green produced some evidence that this resulted in a reduction in pathogen attack. It is concluded that AM fungi may have potential for use in a biocontrol programme against microdochium patch in fine turf.