Let’s examine recent academic studies to find better ways to control plant diseases, like dollar spot, on golf courses that are open all year. We’ve summarized them for you to make it a lighter read!
Superintendents face a unique challenge with disease management on golf courses played continuously. The relentless battle against turf diseases and constant wear and tear can be overwhelming and often requires significant chemical treatments for control. However, research shows that using microbial inoculants can be a game-changer, offering an effective addition to your toolbox. These solutions not only improve turf and soil balance but also reduce the volume of fungicides, providing much-needed relief from the burden of continuous disease management. However, they also come with limitations.
This blog explores how microbial solutions can help create healthier, disease-resistant turf, and their current limitations.
Key Insight: According to Bekken et al. (2022), strategic use of reduced-risk fungicides and prediction models like the Smith-Kerns Dollar Spot Prediction Model can help superintendents manage disease effectively while reducing overall pesticide usage. This approach lays the groundwork for incorporating microbial solutions as part of an integrated disease management plan.
Current Research on Microbials in Disease Control for Golf Courses
Enhanced Disease Resistance - Bolton et al. (2022)
The study by Bolton et al. (2022) demonstrated how the microbial inoculant Klebsiella variicola contributed to the establishment and resilience of bermudagrass. This improved turf resilience is critical for disease resistance, as a healthy, well-established turf is less susceptible to pathogen invasion. The findings underscore the potential of specific microbial strains to enhance turfgrass strength and reduce the frequency of fungicide applications.
Value for Superintendents: Incorporating microbial inoculants like Klebsiella variicola into a turf management plan can support the natural defense mechanisms of turfgrass, minimizing reliance on chemical fungicides and promoting sustainable disease control.
Looking for Best Practices - Henry (2023)
The study featured in Golf Course Management revealed that while microbial inoculants are designed to boost turf quality and resilience, they didn’t consistently improve key health indicators, such as turf color, quality, or biomass in field and greenhouse tests. However, treatments led to thicker roots, indicating that colonization was taking place. Currently, ongoing research is now exploring best practices—such as inoculation frequency or microbial blends—to maximize their effectiveness.
Value for Superintendents: The findings point to the potential and limitations of microbial inoculants for turfgrass. Superintendents considering these products might benefit from understanding that inoculant performance may vary.
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Stronger Root Health for Disease Control - Errickson et al. (2023)
This study by Errickson et al. (2023) explores endophytic rhizobacteria, which has been shown to promote root and tiller growth in creeping bentgrass–resulting in a stronger, more disease-resistant plant. Robust root systems are critical for nutrient uptake and recovery from stress, making the turf more capable of withstanding disease pressures.
Value for Superintendents: Enhanced root health improves overall turf resilience, allowing for year-round play with consistent turf quality.
Induced Systemic Resistance (ISR) - Koscak et al. (2023)
Koscak et al. (2023) provided an updated review of current alternatives for controlling plant diseases. One of the significant advantages of using microbial inoculants is their ability to induce systemic resistance (ISR) in turfgrass. This process primes the plant's immune system, enabling it to respond more effectively to pathogens by strengthening its internal defenses. Microbes such as specific strains of Pseudomonas and Bacillus are known for this property. Superintendents can integrate these bacteria to bolster the turf's resilience, potentially minimizing the need for repeated fungicide applications.
Value for Superintendents: With ISR, superintendents can maintain consistent turf quality year-round with proactive disease management strategies.
Microbial Diversity and Disease Control - Xia et al. (2019)
Xia et al. (2019) explored how microbial diversity in the soil impacts turf health. Microbial communities are the fundamental drivers of many natural processes. This diversity fosters a balanced ecosystem that supports resilient turf growth even under high-traffic conditions.
Value for Superintendents: Different soil microbial communities through grass growth habits and defoliation management can contribute to better disease control in more ways than what we have previously known.
Conclusion
Microbial inoculants provide a viable alternative for managing diseases in continuous play golf courses. From inducing systemic resistance and promoting root health to fostering microbial diversity and stress tolerance, these biological tools support a sustainable path to resilient, year-round turf. Coupled with strategic pesticide use, as highlighted by Bekken et al. (2022), superintendents can integrate these solutions for a balanced approach to disease control.
Takeaway: Combining microbial solutions with strategic pesticide use offers superintendents a robust, sustainable strategy for disease control that prioritizes turf quality and environmental health.