Get Ahead of the Curve: Managing Fairy Rings on Greens

Lee Miller

Dr. Lane Tredway

- D. Sorochan

Type II and Type III fairy ring in late spring/early summer…

Type I

J.D. Smith - 1978

Complexity = Problems

Brown Patch

Rhizoctonia solani

One symptom

Fungicide

Excellent Control

Dollar Spot

Sclerotinia homoeocarpa

One symptom

Fungicide

Good Control

Complexity = Problems

Fairy Ring

Agaricus

Three symptoms +

Fungicide

Varying Control

Marasmius Coprinus Lycoperdon Vascellum Bovista

Why Identify??

• Different fungicide sensitivities = improper fungicide selection.

• Different temperature optima for fungal growth = improper application timing

• Different nutritional or pH optima = fertilizer or liming impacts

• Different depths of fungi in soil = amount of water to drench fungicide in, tank-mixing with wetting agent

Agaricus arvensis

Agaricus campestris

Agrocybe pediades

Bovista dermoxantha

Bovista plumbea

Calocybe carnea

Calvatia cyathiformis

Camarophyllus pratensis

Campanella subdendrophora

Chlorophyllum molybdites

Clarulinopsis corniculata

Clitocybe infundibuliformis

Clitocybe rivulosa

Collybia butryacea

Coprinus comatus

Coprinus kubickae

Cyathus stercoreus

Dentinum repandum

Hebeloma crustuliniforme

Hydnellum suaveolens

Hydnum compactum

Hygrocybe coccinea

Hygrocybe psittacina

Hygrocybe reae

Hygrophoropsis aurantiaca

Lactarius insulsus

Lactarius piperatus

Lactarius torminosus

Lepista nuda

Lepista personata

Lepista sordida

Leucoagaricus naucinus

Leucopaxillus giganteus

Lycoperdon marginatum

Lycoperdon perlatum

Lycoperdon pusillum

Lycoperdon spp.

Macrolepiota procera

Marasmius graminum

Marasmius oreades

Marasmius siccus

Marasmius rotula

Marasmius urens

Melanoleuca melaleuca

Melanolueca grarmopodia

Nolanea staurospora

Panaeolina foenisecii

Panaeolus campanulatus

Paxillus involutus

Scleroderma verrucosum

Suillus grevillei

Trechispora alnicola

Tricholoma columbetta

Tricholoma panoeolum

Tricholoma terreum

Vascellum curtisii

Vascellum pratense

Agaricus sp.Coprinus sp.Marasmius oreades

Bovista dermoxanthaBovista plumbea

Lycoperdon perlatumLycoperdon pusillum

Vascellum curtisiiVascellum pratense

Puffball Identification

ID Enemies

Molecular Identification

- Bruns

Calvatia turneri DQ112594

Calvatia turneri DQ112595

Calvatia turneri DQ112596

Lycoperdon umbrinum DQ112592

Lycoperdon altimontanum DQ112589

Lycoperdon lambinonii DQ112576

Lycoperdon cf. decipiens DQ112586

Lycoperdon frigidum DQ112559

Lycoperdon niveum DQ112563

Lycoperdon pusillum AB067724

BHSBpuff1

LCpuff1

OCNG706c

OCNG706d

MHSBpuffmyc1

OCNG706b

Lycoperdon caudatum DQ112633

Lycoperdon norvegicum DQ112631

Lycoperdon perlatum DQ112630

Vascellum pratense DQ112554

Vascellum cf. intermedium DQ112556

Vascellum pratense AB067725

LWA1puff2

LWTifpuff2

Shillpuf1d

Shillpuf1a

Shillpuf1f

KapSoilMycel1

Shillpuf1b

Shillpuf2b

EC16gSB

LW19g5014

LWTifpuff1

EC3gSB

Shillpuf1e

Marasmius oreades EF187911.1

99

51

69

54

84

100

61

67

63

71

93

59

74

96

71

93

48

61

100

92

99

51

37

24

33

0.02

(FL)(WI)(NC)

(NC)

(IL)(NC)

(NC)(NC)

(NC)(NC)(NC)

(NC)(NC)(NC)

(NC)(NC)

(NC)(NC)

(HI)US, HI, & Japan

have same species!!!!!!

NC, SC, FL, CA, IL,& WI have

been analyzed & group here

Identification: Conclusions

• Based on morphology and ITS sequence data, the puffball species we commonly encounter in the Carolinas is not Lycoperdon perlatum.

• Thus far, most samples (88%) have had ITS sequences similar to isolates of Vascellum curtisii or Bovista dermoxantha characterized from golf greens in Japan. This concurs with puffball morphology differences (+/- capillitium).

• In areas sampled (FL, SC, NC, OK, TX, WI, IL, CA, HI) only 4 species have been associated with fairy ring on golf greens.

Current Work • Inoculation

• In vitro fungicide testing

• Determining optimal temperature for growth

• DNA soil fishing - ITS and specific primers

Conditions Favoring Fairy Ring

• Sandy soils, newly constructed greens

• Excessive thatch accumulation

• Extremes in soil moisture

• Nutrient deficiency, especially nitrogen

Fairy ring symptoms are most evident in under-fertilized turf

Excessive thatch accumulations enhance fairy ring.

Cultural Practices to Suppress Fairy Ring Symptoms

Type I

• Cultivate and/or use wetting agents to re-wet

soil profile

Type II

• Mask ring symptoms with nitrogen or iron

Type III

• Remove mushrooms

Difficult Control– Fungus is below soil and can be at various

depths

– No fungal infection = no host resistance

– Hydrophobicity (water repellency)

Some recommend the only option is to dig up the rings and start over

Others recommend stripping sod and mixing of soil to promote microbial antagonism

Chemical Control• Fungicide plus wetting agent is the standard for control

• Fungicides most often used curatively– Flutolanil (Prostar) plus a wetting agent is most often

prescribed– QoIs (i.e. Heritage, Insignia) are also effective

Key w/all applications is to water them in with an ⅛ - ¼ inch of water.

Curative Control

a

a

c

% F

airy

Rin

g Sy

mpt

oms

a

cc

b

- Data provided by Dr. Bruce Martin, Clemson University

Prevention• Common control practice for soil borne turf pathogens

– Summer patch: Apply fungicide in spring when average soil temps reach 65ºF

– Take–all patch: Apply fungicide in spring & fall when average soil temps reach 40 - 60ºF

– Spring dead spot: Apply fungicide in the fall when soil temps are between 60-80ºF

• Superintendents in Gulf Coast states have been using triadimefon for preventive fairy ring control.

• Bayleton granted a 2(ee) label for fairy ring control in all states in 2008.

Prevention of fairy ring caused by Vascellum pratense in

‘Penncross’ creeping bentgrass (July 11, 2006)

- 2 applications made in late March and late April

Fair

y R

ing S

everi

ty (

0 t

o 9

)

d

abc

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ab

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a

Objectives

• Investigate fairy ring control from one preventive application of Bayleton in spring.

• Compare control efficacy between low and high

rates.

• Determine impact of application timing on preventive control.

Treatments

Fungicide

Bayleton: 1 oz/1,000 ft2

Bayleton: 2 oz/1,000 ft2

Application Timing

A: 50ºF (10ºC)

B: 55ºF (13ºC)

C: 60ºF (16ºC)

D: 65ºF (18ºC)

E: 70ºF (21ºC)

F: 75ºF (24ºC)

Application Timing - 2007A

vera

ge

5 d

ay s

oil

tem

per

atu

re t

ake

n a

t 2

inch

es (

º F

)

Mar Apr May June

March 14th - Application A:

50ºF (10ºC)

March 25th - Application B:

55ºF (13ºC)

March 28th -Application C:

60ºF (16ºC)

March 30th -Application D:

65ºF (18ºC)

May 2nd -Application E:

70ºF (21ºC)

May 29th:Fairy ring

start

May 30th -Application F:

75ºF (24ºC)

Application Timing - 2008A

vera

ge

5 d

ay s

oil

tem

per

atu

re t

ake

n a

t 2

inch

es (

º F

)

Mar Apr May June

March 14th - Application A:

50ºF (10ºC)

March 26th - Application B:

55ºF (13ºC)

April 10th-Application C:

60ºF (16ºC)

April 25th-Application D:

65ºF (18ºC)

May 8th -Application E:

70ºF (21ºC)

June 17th:Fairy ring

start

June 4th-Application F:

75ºF (24ºC)

Bayleton – High rate: 65°F

Bayleton – Low rate: 65°F

6/22/07

Control

7/24/07

Bayleton – Low rate: 65°F

Prevention of fairy ring caused by Vascellum pratense in ‘A-1’ creeping bentgrass, 2007

Fair

y R

ing S

everi

ty (

0-

9)

a

a

a

b

bb

bb

b

Bars with same letter are not significantly different according to LSD (∞=0.05).

Prevention of fairy ring caused by Vascellum pratense in ‘A-1’ creeping bentgrass, 2007

Fair

y R

ing S

everi

ty

(0-9

)

a

bbbb b

a

bb

b

b b

a

bb

b

b b

Bars with same letter are not significantly different according to LSD (∞=0.05).

Prevention of fairy ring caused by Vascellum pratense in ‘A-1’ creeping bentgrass, 2008

Fair

y R

ing S

everi

ty (

0-9

)

Prevention of fairy ring caused by Vascellum pratense in ‘A-1’ creeping bentgrass, 2008

Fair

y R

ing S

everi

ty

(0-9

)

Control Recommendation• Make two monthly applications of triadimefon at the

low label rate.

• Initiate applications when 5 day average soil temperatures reach 55 - 65°F corresponding to late March in Raleigh, NC.

• Water in the application immediately with ¼ inch of irrigation.

• Make wetting agent application on regular scheduling, but not tank-mixed when making PREVENTIVE applications.

Refinement – Part 1

• How do the newer DMIs perform in the preventive application scheme? Heritage? Endorse?

• How well does it work on bermuda?

Prevention of fairy ring on a bermudagrass green in Wilmington, NC (June 20, 2008).

- 2 applications made in late March and late April- No wetting agent tank-mixed with applications.

Fair

y R

ing

Severi

ty (

0 t

o

9)

b b

b b b b

ab

a

Prevention of fairy ring on a bentgrass green in Charlotte, NC (August 8, 2008).

- 2 applications made in late March and late April- No wetting agent tank-mixed with applications.

Fair

y R

ing S

everi

ty (

0 t

o 9

)

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cdd

d cd

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a

ab

Refinement – Part 2

• Does tank-mixing a wetting agent really hurt the performance of a preventively applied fairy ring fungicide? Will it reduce phytotoxicity?

• Can I wait to water the application in until night?

Treatments

1) Fungicide

Bayleton: 1 oz/1,000 ft2

Triton: 0.25 oz/1,000 ft2

Untreated

2) Irrigation

Watered in immediately

Watered in 10 hours later

3) Wetting AgentTank-mixed with Revolution (6

oz/M)

No Wetting Agent

7/11/08

7/11/08

Prevention of fairy ring caused by Vascellum pratense in ‘A-1’ creeping bentgrass (August 4, 2008)

Treatments applied on March 28 & April 25.Bars with same letter are not significantly different according to LSD (∞=0.05)

Fair

y R

ing S

everi

ty (

%

Are

a)

a

ab

b

bbb

Phytotoxicity - Tank-mixing Revolution (6 oz/1000 sq ft), 2008

Tu

rf Q

ualit

y (

1-

9)

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ab aba a

a

c c

b

bcbc

Phyto

toxic

ity (

0-9

)

Treatments applied on March 28 & April 25Data collected on May 27Bars with same letter are not significantly different according to LSD (∞=0.05).

Phytotoxicity - Irrigation Timing, 2008Tu

rf Q

ualit

y (

1-9

)

Phyto

toxic

ity (

0-9

)

Treatments applied on March 28 & April 25Data collected on May 27

Conclusions• DMI fungicides appear to have similar efficacy as

preventive treatments• In an early test, irrigation timing did not appear

to have an impact on fungicide efficacy.• Tank mixing preventive fungicides with a wetting

agent decreases fungicide efficacy. • Phytotoxicity of DMI applications needs further

evaluation. In particular, impact on ultradwarf bermudagrass varieties needs to be assessed.

Dr. Lane Tredway Advisory Committee Co-Chair Dr. Larry Grand Advisory Committee Co-ChairDr. Marc Cubeta Advisory Committee MemberDr. Mike Benson Advisory Committee MemberDr. Mike Fidanza Advisory Committee Member

Mike Soika Research AssociateLee Butler Extension AssistantJim Kerns Fellow graduate studentJoe Roberts Undergraduate AssistantEmily Rosebrough Undergraduate AssistantIvey Redding Undergraduate AssistantMatt Martin NC Cooperative Extension AgentJim Monroe NC Cooperative Extension Agent

Funding Sources:

Acknowledgements