How to manage Microdochium Patch, the disease that occurs on more than 90% of UK golf courses, is addressed in a new guide from Bayer.
Dr Colin Mumford, Bayer technical manager, explains the guides covers all aspects of managing the plant disease – from understanding the issue and identification, to preventing and curing the disease.
“Pesticides continue to come under increasing regulatory pressure,” says Colin. “For this reason, greenkeepers should be looking to implement an integrated approach to disease management, with the view of reducing reliance on chemicals. The guide clearly explains that cultural and biological practices should be considered ahead of any pesticide usage. It’s all about reducing the risk of disease outbreaks so that chemical applications are limited.”
If chemical control is required, Colin notes the importance of selecting the appropriate fungicide for the individual disease outbreak: “Whether you need a systemic or contact acting product, or want to know how to rotate fungicide groups, the guide will assist in your decision. It really is a one-stop-shop to helping greenkeepers tackle Microdochium Patch.”
The recent news about the withdrawal of all products containing iprodione, including Chipco® Green and Interface® from Bayer, reinforces the importance of an integrated approach to disease management.
“The loss of iprodione alone reduces the available number of fungicide groups for turf managers from six to five,” comments Colin. “With other chemicals also due for assessment, a further reduction in the total number of products on the market for turf disease control is to be expected. It’s therefore important for turf managers to appreciate that the continued pressure on contact acting chemistry will mean that they need to adopt a preventative disease control strategy.”
The guide is available from the Bayer website.
www.environmentalscience.bayer.co.uk