As temperatures across our region roller coaster their way into spring, bermudagrass putting greens are often some of the first warm-season turfgrass systems to green up. While that’s a good thing most of time, sometimes it is not as welcoming when patches of dead or slow to green up turf exhibits itself after a stretch of warm days. Bermudagrass putting greens that were injured by disease activity last fall going into dormancy will likely still show symptoms from those infections despite the fungi no longer being active.

The most common diagnosis has been take-all root rot, however, we have also diagnosed several cases of spring dead spot and cream leaf blight. In addition to bona fide diseases, we also see differences in green up and responses to management inputs from off-types.

You may ask yourself why does this matter? It matters because the stand symptoms are all very similar and can be very difficult to separate in the field. A laboratory diagnosis is essential when you observe off-colored patches this time of year.

Take-All Root Rot

With the flurry of putting greens in North Carolina being converted from creeping bentgrass to ultradwarf bermudagrass (UDB) in early 2000’s, take-all root rot climbed to the top spot as the most commonly diagnosed disease of UDB greens in 2016 and has remained at the top ever since.

Recently, multiple organisms have been associated with take-all root rot. This has presented a challenge and opportunity for turfgrass pathologists to study the biology of the multiple pathogens associated with TARR. It is not uncommon to find these organisms present on healthy turfgrass and can be transported on sprigs. Like many diseases, changes in environmental conditions and plant health influence disease symptom development.

Most TARR samples sent to the Turf Diagnostics Lab are diagnosed in the fall, winter, and spring months. However, TARR is consistently diagnosed on a monthly basis throughout the year. The rise of TARR diagnosis in the shoulder seasons is likely due to the change in environmental conditions such as cooler and cloudy weather and shorter day length that increase bermudagrass stress. The optimal soil temperatures for the growth of TARR organisms ranges between 77-86°F (25-30°C) and preventative measures should be conducted during this time frame. Excessive thatch, poor drainage, over-irrigating, and stressed turfgrass are the most common factors contributing to TARR development. Other factors that may increase the severity of TARR are excessive low mowing heights, low fertility, and over regulation. Recent research conducted by one of graduate students, Brandi Merrick, has shown how critical manganese is for suppressing take-all root rot.

Read more at: Take-all Root Rot Disease Profile

Typical stand symptoms of TARR observed on UDB greens during late fall/winter.

Take-all root rot symptoms on an UDB putting green in early fall before dormancy

Specialized infection/attachment structures (hyphopodia) created by the causal fungus of take-all root rot (Gaeumannomyces spp.) on a stolon of an UDB plant

Spring Dead Spot

Spring dead spot (SDS) has been diagnosed multiple times on UDB putting greens in the past few weeks due to the warmer than usual weather in February which led to greening up in most locations across the state. As many of you know, SDS is likely the most devastating disease on this list because there will be very little to no recovery within these patches. Recovery will only be from surrounding healthy plants sending stolons across to fill in the void. Another option, if you have a nursery and you are lucky enough to only have a few patches here and there, would be to replace these with healthy plugs. Potential reasons for SDS development this time of year are: 1) spraying fungicides too early, 2) Not watering the fungicides in enough after the application, 3) Bad luck.

Read more at: Spring Dead Spot Disease Profile

Spring dead spot symptoms on an UDB green in December

Spring dead spot symptoms on a bermudagrass putting green during the winter.

Spring dead spot symptoms on a bermudagrass putting green during late winter.

Spring dead spot symptoms on an ultradwarf bermudagrass putting green after full green up.

Mycelial plaque produced by Ophiosphaerella spp., the causal agent of SDS on an UDB stolon. Notice how this is different from hyphopodia created by take-all root rot.

Mycelial plaque created by SDS on an UDB root system

Cream Leaf Blight

Little is known about the disease on bermudagrass putting greens, but we commonly observe it in the transition zone and even into northern Florida. However, the disease is most prevalent in areas where bermudagrass goes dormant. The disease rose to prominence in the Southeast as the conversion from creeping bentgrass putting greens to ultradwarf bermudagrass increased. We suspect that the disease has been present for some time and likely was diagnosed as superficial fairy ring, pink patch or some other basidiomycete fungus. As golf course superintendents were working out winter management practices, cream leaf blight was alarming as it could span large areas of putting greens quickly, yet the disease never seemed to cause any serious damage.

On bermudagrass putting greens, the symptoms start as small white or cream spots or patches ranging in size from 3 to 8 inches in diameter. The patches rarely increase in size, but may coalesce into larger areas. The disease is cosmetic, as we have observed little lasting damage associated with the disease, yet it can affect large areas of turf. The stand symptoms can be difficult to see when bermudagrass is painted or pigmented during the winter months. Symptoms have been observed across entire putting greens during the winter months.

Affected leaves have a cream to whitish appearance, but no visible lesions can be found on the leaves. No symptoms or signs are observed on stolons, rhizomes or roots.

Read more at: Cream Leaf Blight Disease Profile

Cream leaf blight symptoms during UDB putting green dormancy. The clean research plot in this photo is from a preventative application with an SDHI fungicide for spring dead spot control the prior fall.

Cream leaf blight symptoms on an UDB putting green

Cream leaf blight mycelium in the foliage of an UDB putting green sample

“Off-Type” Bermudagrass

Just like aging stands of creeping bentgrass, older stands of ultradwarf bermudagrass putting greens are now showing off-types/mutations/contaminants. These off-types may respond differently to management practices, recent weather, etc. and may appear similar to the UDB disease symptoms listed above. This also means they may green up quicker/slower than the desired cultivar and may be more/less susceptible to the fluctuating temperatures this time of year.

Off-types in a bermudagrass putting green during the winter months. This symptom could easily be mistaken for a disease like cream leaf blight. – Photo Credit – Dr. Jim Brosnan at the University of Tennessee

Off-types in a bermudagrass putting green. This symptom could easily be mistaken for a disease like take-all root rot. – Photo Credit – Dr. Jim Brosnan at the University of Tennessee

Off-types in a bermudagrass putting green. This symptom could easily be mistaken for a disease like take-all root rot.

Closing Thoughts

As you can clearly see, there are MULTIPLE things that can cause UDB putting greens to express a patch-like symptom. It is extremely important that you obtain an accurate diagnosis in order to be successful in managing each of these issues.

Finally, one issue not discussed in this post was Pythium root rot. Normally, this disease is most prevalent during late summer/early fall, however under warm/wet winters symptoms may develop.

Pythium root rot symptoms on an ultradwarf bermudagrass putting green.