A Cornucopia
of Rain & Disease
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Photo 1: 6/9/04 - Summer patch in southwest suburbs.
Photo 2: (Rollover image) 6/16/04 - Ring symptom from near western
(O'Hare) suburb. Suspected fairy ring.
Weather:
We had a very wet May in northern Illinois and things really
haven't calmed in the first few weeks of June. Official totals
at O' Hare and Midway show we are running just about average,
but that doesn't tell the whole story. Intense and very localized
storms over last weekend caused extensive flooding to some areas
(Aurora got close to 4 inches on Friday night/Saturday morning!).
All of this wet weather and high humidity is causing a myriad
of turf problems, including cart damage, scalping, and numerous
diseases (see below), With all this rain, I wonder if maybe
of more concern will be the status of the turf going into this
summer season. It is very difficult to grow roots that are floating
in water, and it may be impossible if the heat really hits to
keep the turf (especially Poa) hydrated and cool. LDS and several
patch diseases are also showing up in some areas which will
only further compound the problem.
Forecasts had another
storm system plotted out for yesterday and today for Chicagoland,
but somehow like the parting of the Red Sea it split and hit
only western and central Illinois. There is little to no rain
forecast for this weekend, so maybe we can dry out a little.
The forecast also keeps
temperatures relatively cool (highs in 70's and low 80's) in
northern Illinois, which will hopefully curtail any warm weather
pathogen activity.
At the halfway point
of June (see table below), it looks as if the rain doesn't let
up a little, we will once again be well over our normal monthly
rainfall totals in northern Illinois. Central Illinois seems
to be right on target as to June rainfall thus far, and some
parts of southern Illinois are below average. In all areas,
we are still well ahead of our degree day count this year, which
may be causing a lot of early pest outbreaks.
2003-2004 Degree Days (DDs) and Rainfall
Totals
|
City
|
2004 DDs to 6/15
|
2003 DDs
to 6/15
|
Last week's rainfall (6-8 - 6/15)
|
Total June Rainfall to 6/15
|
Normal Total June Rainfall
|
% of Total to 6/15
|
|
Carbondale
|
1360
|
1,099
|
0.59"
|
0.63"
|
4.77"
|
13%
|
|
Springfield
|
1162
|
841
|
2.74"
|
3.32
|
3.77"
|
88%
|
|
Peoria
|
1127
|
826
|
1.41"
|
1.52"
|
3.84"
|
40%
|
|
Bloomington
|
1075
|
829
|
1.95"
|
1.96"
|
3.99"
|
49%
|
|
Moline
|
998
|
770
|
2.19"
|
2.23"
|
4.63"
|
48%
|
|
Orland Park
|
901
|
618
|
3.31"
|
3.76"
|
4.16"
|
90%
|
|
Frankfort
|
882
|
536
|
4.2"
|
3.05"
|
4.16"
|
73%
|
|
Aurora
|
878
|
570
|
5.09"
|
5.49"
|
3.63"
|
151%
|
|
Lemont
|
831
|
529
|
3.03"
|
3.3"
|
3.63"
|
91%
|
|
N. Barrington
|
667
|
404
|
2.20"
|
2.26"
|
3.86"
|
59%
|
Diseases:
Wet Mays typically set us up for this kind of year. The abundant
moisture, high humidities, and fluctuating temperatures have
yielded numerous disease outbreaks over the last two weeks in
northern Illinois. In all, we have observed or had reported
to us brown patch (R. solani), cool weather brown patch
(R. zeae), fairy rings, summer patch, necrotic ring spot,
take-all patch, dollar spot, Bipolaris leaf spot, and
some very limited Pythium activity. Some of these
diseases such as cool weather brown patch and take-all patch
should decrease in severity as we get into warmer weather.
Since Pythium makes everyone's ears perk
up, I should say that these early reports came in from Bloomington,
and some southern suburbs that were seriously flooded. One
sample we diagnosed today (6/18) that was originally thought
to be Pythium was actually Rhizoctonia solani with heavy
aerial mycelium and the characteristic 'wet, slimy' look to
it, so be careful when diagnosing it. The take-home message
in northern Illinois is to be scouting your hot spots for light
infections but it is still probably a bit early for it unless
the temperatures spike. Conversely, central and southern Illinois
should be scouting even more intensely, and might expect outbreaks
sooner when the mercury rises.
What has been at a fever pitch in northern Illinois
are the rings and patches. I guess in true pre-Olympic spirit,
rings caused by Rhizoctonia zeae are abounding in northern
Illinois. We have diagnosed them in Wilmette, Glenview, LaGrange,
and Mundelein with some suspected rings also here at Golf House
on tees and greens. We are certain it is a Rhizoctonia
species and the major suspect is R. zeae, but the oddity
is the timing, host, & severity of symptoms (!) in some
of these areas. Normally, R.zeae is a pre-dollar spot
disease in terms of its timing in the year, and definitely should
not be spiking after some 90 degree readings. It normally is
worse and limited to Poa, but we are seeing these rings also
pretty intensely on bentgrass. Also, it normally is not this
severe, as it appears to be doing some pretty bad damage in
areas, and earlier on in the year may have required treatment
in some areas. As we get out of this transitional period and
into a truer summer pattern, however, we should see this mainly
aesthetic disease disappear.
As alluded to, take-all patch is also rearing
its ugly head, as we have reports coming in the south and western
suburbs (including a patch on our 3 g here). These reports are
coming in from sites that historically have it; they aren't
calling us to diagnose it, just telling us they have it. Really
the only option if you've got it now is to hand water and baby
sit it until July when it hopefully will go away. Some studies
suggest the best time to treat is in the fall (mid-September
to early November), so note where the patches occur and if possible
spot- treat then, and again next spring. Recommended fungicides
include Heritage, Rubigan, Banner, and Bayleton.
Summer patch has done a number on some bluegrass
roughs in the area that historically have had it in the past.
The option here might be to core aerify, chop up the plugs and
overseed with a more resistant bluegrass variety. Click
here to view some more information about summer patch and some
resistant bluegrass varieties. Here at Golf House
we think we are also seeing necrotic ring spot, a similar disease,
on some of our bluegrass areas.
Lastly, the dollar spot has been roaring over
the last week, with maybe the highest disease pressure of the
season thus far. Some complaints have come in about shorter
than normal control intervals, which could be due to actual
fungicide resistance (least likely),or simply the ample moisture
and humidity that has provided perfect conditions.
nsects:
Examination of raster patterns, shows that early
reports of black turfgrass Ataenius grubs could have
actually been Aphodius, a close cousin of Ataenius
in the Aphodinae family. Plenty of Ataenius beetles
are still strolling around greens though, so more outbreaks
of these smaller grubs could occur soon. The last newsletter
had the first Japanese beetle being reported in St. Louis, and
now they are emerging in Moline and Bloomington as well. I would
expect them to start emerging here in southern Chicagoland soon,
and reach a crescendo a few weeks later. This would be significantly
earlier than last year (imagine that) when they really didn't
get going until the second or third week in July. The early
adult beetle activity (Japanese, June, and chafers) could lead
to earlier annual white grub activity too, so we might need
to start watching for them in August this year instead of early
September. . .
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Photo 1: Eye level view of an armyworm (Photo courtesy of Kevin
Black)
Photo 2: (Rollover image) Armyworms in a wheat field in Will
County (Photo courtesy of Steve Doench)
Cutworm activity has been noted in St. Louis recently
after a hydroject treatment, but I really haven't heard too
many other cutworm problems throughout the state, yet. One unique
'worm' report I have heard is a major outbreak of armyworms
(see pictures above) on turf in Harvard, Illinois. As the name
implies, these larvae literally "march" across turf
when they reach large numbers, eating every bit of green leaf
and stem. This normally doesn't kill the turf, because the crowns
are not eaten, but can be unsightly. These pests normally cause
the most damage in fields of wheat or sod farms, but they are
currently in northeast Illinois and might make their way up
to Chicago. Click
here for the recent UIUC IPM newsletter report on armyworms.
Another pressing problem with all this rain is
the mosquitoes. As many of you know, mosquito larvae develop
in open, stagnant pools of water, which there has been no shortage
of recently. One form of cultural control is to try to alleviate
as many of these water pools as possible, paying special attention
to clogged rain gutters, birdbaths, or any open container. Mosquitoes
can develop in as little as 4 days in a pool of water so vigilance
with this method of mosquito reduction is necessary. New 20th
century controls such as the mosquito magnet and light traps
are also available, but like anything make sure to check for
solid scientific evidence before you plunk a load of money into
one. Other than that, good ole' fashioned DEET insect repellant
may be the order of duty this year. For more information on
the mosquito, life cycle, and controls, go to www.mosquito.org
(seems that everything's got a website now).
Gypsy moth eggs are also starting to hatch in
northern Illinois, which means the "Slow the Spread"
program should get into full swing again. The first sprays with
Bacillus thurengensis kurstaki were started on May 17th
for larval control in DuPage, Kane, Will, and Lake counties,
and then a pheromone spray will follow in summer to disrupt
mating.
Also, as reported in an earlier newsletter, the
Great Brood X of periodical cicadas should not, I repeat not
effect most of Illinois, as their range stops right near the
Indiana-Illinois border. We will have to wait until 2007 in
northern Illinois when our Brood XIII emerges. For more information
on the cicada
click here to read Phil Nixon's Scouting Watch in the June 2nd
HYG Newsletter (which
also includes the information on the gypsy moth spraying). .
Moss and algae:
Moss and algae problems are still a problem with
the wet weather. We have heard a report from Carbondale and
now Champaign of significant problems with algae. Some success
for algae (and also moss) problems has been reported with algaecides/fungicides
such as Junction (copper hydroxide and mancozeb), Daconil, Dithane,
Fore, and Iron Sulfate. A notable tank mix of some of these
fungicides (thiram, Daconil, and Mancozeb) incidently also works
well for several superintendents for moss control. (6/18)
Some areas in Chicagoland are also starting to see moss start
cranking up on greens.
+++++++++++++++++++++++
Thanks for your support of this, as well as all
of our research programs,
Randy
Kane
CDGA
Director of Turfgrass Programs
Midwest Golf House
11855 Archer Ave
Lemont, IL 60439
630-257-8126
Lee
Miller
CDGA
Manager of Turfgrass Research
Midwest Golf House
11855 Archer Ave
Lemont, IL 60439
630-257-2005 x.106
