Spring Dead Spot Control
Written by: Aaron Martin
Spring dead spot is a disease on warm season grasses in transition zone climates, caused by Ophiosphaerella herpotricha, Ophiosphaerella korae and Ophiosphaerella narmari. The predominant species in the southeastern United States being Ophiosphaerella korae. The pathogen infects the plant in the fall, but symptoms are not visible until the following spring as the turf breaks dormancy.
Learn more about this disease.
Dr. Bruce Martin displayed results of spring dead spot trials at the Clemson University Turfgrass Field Day. Dr. Martin, the turf pathologist at Clemson University, is a leading expert on spring dead spot biology and control. The field day was held on April 14th, 2015 at the Pee Dee Research and Education Center in Florence, SC.
Attached are some of the interesting results that were on display. Fungicide treatments were applied on September 23, 2014 and follow up treatments on October 21, 2014 and November 18, 2014. Rates and application dates and intervals were provided by Dr. Martin.