Insights from Abroad: Managing Turfgrass Diseases in Asia with Minimal Input
Micah Woods, Ph.D.: Asian Turfgrass Center
<div><span face="Linux Libertine O" style="font-family:Linux Libertine O;">The most important factor for managing turfgrass diseases in Asia is the choice of turfgrass species. Tropical carpetgrass (<i>Axonopus compressus</i>) when grown in tropical regions of Asia almost never shows disease symptoms. All other turfgrass species used in Asia have some amount of disease, but the species differ in the amount of disease. Seashore paspalum (<i>Paspalum vaginatum</i>) in Southeast Asia is especially susceptible to multiple fungal pathogens. In the transition zone, disease symptoms are minimized by using <i>Zoysia</i> species. Control is required for large patch (<i>Rhizoctonia solani</i>), and fungicides are typically applied in spring and autumn to prevent disease symptoms. Manilagrass (<i>Zoysia matrella</i>) is susceptible to dog’s footprint (<i>Curvularia</i> spp.) during warm and humid weather; fungicides are only applied to control this disease in high maintenance turf. Cool-season grasses are affected by the same diseases as seen at similar latitudes in temperate regions of the world. Annual bluegrass (<i>Poa annua</i>) is a common weed, but is rarely used as a maintained turf, so the diseases of that species are not as much a concern as they are in other parts of the world. My work has focused on supplying enough nutrients and water to the turf to produce a desired growth rate. This approach to turfgrass management results in minimal inputs and has some effect on turfgrass diseases.</span></div>
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