Lightweight Rolling Effects on Anthracnose of Annual Bluegrass Putting Greens

Abstract

Lightweight rolling can be eff ectively used to increase ball roll distance (BRD) and infl uence anthracnose development on annual bluegrass (ABG) [Poa annua L. f. reptans (Hausskn) T. Koyama] putting green turf. Th e objective of this 3-yr fi eld trial was to evaluate the infl uence of roller type (i.e., sidewinder, triplex mounted vibratory, and nonrolled) and location (center or perimeter) of equipment traffi c on anthracnose severity, turf quality, and BRD of ABG turf maintained at 3.2 mm. Both roller types either had no eff ect or reduced disease 3 to 13% compared to nonrolled turf under moderate disease pressure in 2006, 2007, and 2008. Disease severity was not diff erent between the roller types on most dates; however, the heavier sidewinder roller did result in less disease than the triplex mounted vibratory roller on 4 of 13 rating dates in 2007 and 2008. Interestingly, perimeter plots had slightly less disease compared to center plots on 6 of 13 rating dates. Th e current study shows that the practice of rolling does not explain fi eld observations that greater anthracnose can oft en occur and is most severe within the perimeter of putting greens. Alternatively, this research indicates that rolling can be used to increase BRD and improve turf quality without exacerbating the severity of anthracnose disease on ABG putting green turf.

Influence of Host and Geographic Locale on the Distribution of Colletotrichum cereale Lineages

“…[6]–[16]). For most of the 20 th century, C. cereale was considered conspecific with C. graminicola , the fungus responsible for maize anthracnose disease, based on morphological similarities [17].…”

“…The emergence of C. cereale as one of the primary diseases impacting turfgrass health on golf course putting greens has prompted several investigations in recent years pertaining to the identity of the fungus, the structure of populations, and the management factors that influence the development of disease in turfgrass hosts ( e.g. [6] – [16] ). For most of the 20 th century, C. cereale was considered conspecific with C. graminicola , the fungus responsible for maize anthracnose disease, based on morphological similarities [17] .…”

Effects of Rolling and Sand Topdressing on Dollar Spot Severity in Fairway Turfgrass

“…In the mid-1990s, researchers discovered that rolling at a frequency of three times weekly reduced dollar spot, and localized dry spot, moss, and broadleaf weeds in creeping bentgrass (Nikolai et al, 2001). Inguagiato et al (2009) observed that rolling decreased the severity of anthracnose (Colletotrichum cereale), whereas Roberts et al (2012) reported that rolling not only increased ball roll distance, but also reduced anthracnose in annual bluegrass putting greens. These experiments demonstrated that turfgrass edaphic environment and pathogen activity could be affected by rolling practices.…”