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A return to more normal autumn conditions has seen a surge in risk of Fusarium Patch infection breaking out, especially across western England, Ireland and most of Scotland. Cooling temperatures and increasing surface moisture on greens create ideal conditions for Fusarium pathogen to develop from where it's been lurking in the thatch, warns Syngenta Technical Manager, Dr Simon Watson.

He urges greenkeepers and turf managers to be extra vigilant for conditions conducive to disease, and to target pathogen build up before it has chance to damage playing surface quality. "Most golf courses are looking in incredibly good condition this autumn. Targeting disease spores now, as the risk is rising, gives the real chance to avoid early damage and maintain player satisfaction."

He highlights that this is the first autumn where greenkeepers can use the new contact⁺ fungicide, Medallion TL, to target spores in the thatch and on the leaf surface, thus reducing the potential risk of infection. Dr Watson believes this early intervention when risk is rising could have beneficial legacy right through then winter.

"Turf managers' experience with Medallion TL in user trials has shown exceptional long-lasting results, even under very challenging high risk conditions. Furthermore, reducing the level of Fusarium pathogen in thatch and soil surface now will limit its further development and build-up as the season progresses, ensuring ITM measures and any future treatments can be more effective," he advises.

Stowmarket Golf Club Head Greenkeeper, Matthew Gill (below), was one of the first Medallion TL trialists last winter. Applied just three days ahead of a blanket of snow cover across the course, he reported the treated areas remained completely clean, whilst Fusarium disease continued to develop beneath the snow on untreated greens.

"I will definitely use Medallion TL again - but would use it more as a preventative, due to its longevity compared to other contacts," he added.

Click here to read what Matthew and other user trialists across the country had to say about Medallion TL.

STRI Head of Turf Protection, Dr Ruth Mann warns mild, wet autumnal mornings, when the soil is still warm and the air cooler, will herald the beginning of Fusarium Patch season.


Fungicide applications can be effective in reducing pathogen populations in the thatch and soil surface - helping ITM measures to work more effectively, says Dr Ruth Mann. 

"When weather conditions are suitable for disease, outbreaks can sometimes flare up before turf managers have time to take any action, resulting in damage that may take weeks or months to repair," she said. "This is because   the pathogens that cause turf disease survive on organic matter in the root zone and will infect turf when conducive weather conditions occur . In some cases the pathogen will be growing and proliferating in the turf base before we see the symptoms of the disease on the surface."

Dr Mann advises that using Integrated Turf Management (ITM) to create an environment less favourable  to the  pathogens  can reduce  their ability to grow  rapidly and infect the grass plants when weather conditions become favourable.

Furthermore, she reports research has shown fungicide applications can be effective in reducing the inoculum of certain diseases. "On courses with continual history disease, applying an appropriate fungicide when the risk of infection is high  but before we see symptoms - may allow  more effective pathogen control while  maintaining turf quality."

GreenCast sees Fusarium risk rising