Fusarium Patch Disease on Winter Sports Turf in the UK

Fusarium patch has been identified as the most economically important disease on winter sports turf in the UK. The disease causes a severe reduction in surface playing quality and general aesthetic appearance. A number of known microbial antagonists together with indigenous fungi and bacteria isolated from the phylloplane and rhizosphere of perennial rye grass, the major constituent of winter sports turf, were screened for activity against fusarium patch on turfgrass extract agar. The initial assay identified which isolates appeared to suppress pathogen growth in vitro. These potential antagonists were further tested to determine efficacy in vivo. Fungi from the genus Trichoderma and bacteria from the genera Bacillus and Pseudomonas were the most effective at reducing fusarium patch disease severity. All antagonists tested significantly reduced fusarium patch severity compared to an untreated control, e.g., the indigenous Bacillus species reduced disease severity on turf by 76.1%. These results suggest that fusarium patch is a likely candidate for biocontrol on turfgrass. However, further testing under appropriate field conditions and cultural management practices is required.