With the onset of autumn the opportunity for turf to recover from damage caused by the current continuous high disease pressure will be severely restricted. “Shorter days, lower light intensity and cooler temperatures will curtail growth, but the high rainfall has triggered widespread outbreaks of Fusarium,” warns Simon Barnaby of Syngenta.
Areas of the UK experienced a medium to high risk of Fusarium infection for over 20 days in August, and every day for the first two weeks in September.
“Where turf managers see the first signs of disease infection it is now crucial to act quickly,” he advises. “The target is to cure disease on the leaf to stop physical damage, as well as preventing new disease breaking out or the spread of spores that will create more infection.
“Banner MAXX has proven to be extremely fast acting in getting into the turf plant and eradicating disease, as well as preventing further infection over the coming weeks,” he adds. “The combination of systemic and contact activity ensures the existing leaf is also given the ultimate surface protection, whilst rapid movement within the plant gives more persistent long-term effects, safe from further rain.”
Mr Barnaby highlights diseased patches will disrupt ball roll on quality golf and bowls turf surfaces and, where turf cover is lost, make sports pitches more susceptible to wear damage during periods of heavy play over the winter. Bare spots will also allow the ingress of undesirable Poa annua and other weed species.
Independent trials have demonstrated the fast action of Banner MAXX gave an additional 15% improvement in autumn turf quality following summer applications, compared to iprodione. And when the iprodione treated turf quality started to suffer badly in September, dipping over 25% in turf quality assessment, the Banner MAXX treated turf maintained quality throughout with over 250% improvement, compared to untreated.
Mick Fance of The Scotts Company advises that an autumn application of Banner MAXX for Fusarium control will also effectively reduce levels of the Anthracnose pathogen, as well as Brown Patch and Dollar Spot. “Reducing the level of pathogen present in the turf is an essential part of any successful Integrated Turf Management programme.
“The fast action of Banner MAXX to knock down and eliminate disease, along with the persistent protection from new infection, gives the other cultural measures the best opportunity for success.” And since Banner MAXX is an entirely new class of chemistry of turf managers, it provides a valuable alternative mode of action within the fungicide programme to minimise risk of disease resistance developing.”
This autumn The Scotts Company is giving turf managers the opportunity to claim a free copy of James B. Beard’s highly acclaimed Turfgrass Encyclopedia, the complete A-Z of turfgrass, when they purchase two three-litre bottles of Banner MAXX. www.scottsprofessional.co.uk
Syngenta turf management information www.greencast.co.uk