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Research details pathology, progression, management of large patch disease

With spring rains, warm-season turfgrasses such as bermudagrass and zoysiagrass are at risk of a fungal disease called large patch that can leave a lawn marked with large brown areas of dead and dying grass.

Large patch is caused by a fungus and affects warm-season turfgrasses, which go dormant in cooler months. This disease begins with small, round patches that can grow in diameter and are characterized by a yellow, orange or brown color as the affected grass dies.

The study, "," was published in the Crop Science journal and provides critical knowledge about the disease that can compromise the health, aesthetics and usability of turfgrass.

It provides readers with comprehensive information covering the disease's pathology, progression and management, and it highlights areas in turfgrass science research that require further attention, such as the environmental and soil elements that contribute to the spread of the fungus behind the disease. These could include soil salinity, pH and fertility.

The article identifies breeding for improved large patch resistance as another opportunity for further research.

The article's first author, Samuel Kreinberg, is a University of Arkansas graduate student specializing in turfgrass science. He plans to defend his master's thesis this month and present the paper at the 15th International Turfgrass Research Conference in Karuizawa, Japan, this summer.

Diagnosing turf

Wendell Hutchens, who is Kreinberg's advisor and co-author, said he is often asked the question: "What's wrong with my lawn this spring?"

Hutchens is an assistant professor of turfgrass science in the Horticulture Department with the Arkansas Agricultural Experiment Station and the Cooperative Extension Service—the University of Arkansas System Division of Agriculture's research and outreach arms—and the Dale Bumpers College of Agricultural, Food and Life Sciences.

Because the article includes information on the disease cycle and management strategies for large patch, Hutchens said it is useful as both a research and outreach resource to answer such a question.

"The paper is a helpful resource to send to a golf course superintendent, sod grower, sports field manager, or anybody that struggles with the disease large patch," he said.

Hutchens noted that rainy climates and moderate temperatures can lead to a greater prevalence of large patch. As temperatures rise in the summer and the weather becomes drier, the disease will typically go away.

When it comes to managing large patch, Hutchens said many people often make the mistake of watering their grass too much. He said that mowing properly, fertilizing correctly and not overwatering grass will "alleviate the vast majority of the issues" with the disease.

Kreinberg said that large patch is one of the primary issues of zoysiagrass lawns in Arkansas, and he conducted a research trial in both Fayetteville and Alma, Arkansas, to analyze the spread of the disease in zoysiagrass.

Those who suspect that large patch has affected their lawns can submit samples to the through county extension offices, and by walk-in at the clinic in Fayetteville, located at 2601 N. Young Ave.

As for the motivation behind the research, Hutchens said he and Kreinberg "wanted to identify what had not been studied about the disease."

Hutchens also credited Kreinberg for the accomplishment of serving as the first author of a piece that was published in Crop Science.