Characterization and management of mini-ring (Waitea zeae) on bermudagrass. (Daniel Freund - Ph.D student)

• Collection and characterization of Waitea zeae isolates
• Determine optimal environmental temperature for in-vitro growth of Waitea zeae
• Test in-vitro sensitivity of isolates to various fungicides and concentrations
• Investigate optimal fungicide application timings on mini-ring-affected bermudagrass across the state
• Determine the effect of Nitrogen source on the suppression of mini-ring in a greenhouse setting
• Survey golf courses with and without a history of mini-ring to assess mineral nutrition, pH, water quality, and nematode presence. Data will help determine similarities and differences among the tested golf courses.

Characterization and growth dynamics of sparse leaf patch (Microdochium paspali) on seashore paspalum. (Daniel Freund - Ph.D student)

• Collection and characterization of Microdochium paspali isolates
• Determine optimal environmental temperature for in-vitro growth of Waitea zeae
• Test in-vitro sensitivity of isolates to various fungicides and concentrations

Management Effects on Turfgrass Soil Microbiomes. (Benjamin Snell - M.S. student)

• Determine the effect of organic vs. synthetic management programs on turf quality in tall fescue and zoysiagrass.
• Measure fungal and bacterial biodiversity in the soil microbiome of home lawns following organic or synthetic management strategies.
• Compare fungal and bacterial biodiversity in the soil microbiome of creeping bentgrass and bermudagrass putting greens, and athletic fields.

Detection of single-nucleotide polymorphisms associated with SDHI insensitivity in Clarireedia spp. and development of a novel diagnostic assay for mutated allele detection. (Dylan Dean - Ph.D. student)

• Sanger sequence SdhB, SdhC, and SdhD genes from a population of Clarieedia isolates to determine the quantity of isolates displaying mutations
• Perform in-vitro phenotypic quantification of SDHI insensitivity for isolates
• Develop a probe-based real-time pcr assay to allow for the rapid and high-throughput detection of SNPs associated with field-level SDHI insensitivity

Validation of the Smith-Kerns dollar spot disease warning model on warm-season turfgrasses. (Dylan Dean - Ph.D. student)

• Explore field-level disease development dynamics on warm-season turfgrasses in relation to the predicted risk of disease development
• Determine optimal risk threshold for guiding fungicide application on warm-season turfgrasses

Evaluating the potential for longer spray intervals due to the implementation of ferrous sulfate into a fungicide spray program tailored to control cool-season dollar spot. (Dylan Dean - Ph.D. student)

• Perform a multi-year field experiment across multiple locations exploring differences in a standard fungicide spray program and a fungicide spray program containing ferrous sulfate