Turf

76 FROM THE ROUGH Anthracnose Management Our anthracnose 'story' is based on 10 years of research. Anthrac- nose (Colletotrichum cereale) has become a major disease problem on annual bluegrass (Poa annua) putting greens (Figure 2). An inte- grated approach remains essential to manage this disease effectively. Initial research from 2003 indicated that the use of potassium phos- phite in the form of PK-Plus could lessen the severity of anthracnose compared to the fertilizer alone (Gary's Green) and control treat- ments. Phosphite (H 2 PO 3 - ) provides disease management options and plant health benefits that result from the upregulation of the turf's natural defense mechanisms such as anti- oxidant production. line Figure 1), therefore a two-week application interval of 6 fl. oz./M PK- Plus is recommended (Figure 1). Not all phosphite fertilizers are created the same, and turf manag- ers should select products proven to get results. More than 10 years of research and field results verify that routine use of PK-Plus is an effec- tive stress and management tool that also provides mineral nutrition for better quality and more depend- able turf. PK-Plus is the only foliar fertilizer scientifically documented as an ef- fective approach to managing the summer decline of cool and warm season grasses, including anthrac- nose (Collectotrichum cereale), mi- crodochium patch (Microdochium nivale), pythium (Pythium spp.), and root-knot nematodes. Figure 2 Anthracnose on an annual bluegrass (Poa annua L.) putting green. INTEGRATED PEST MANAGEMENT

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