TurfFiles decision aids for diagnosis and management of turfgrass diseases

• Published in: Phytopathology 2009-06, Vol.99 (6), p.S129-S129
• Main Authors: Tredway, L P, Wilkerson, G G, Sturgill, M C, Lassiter, B R, Chungath, V J, Buol, G S
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• ISSN: 0031-949X

Two internet-based decision aids have been developed to assist turfgrass professionals and homeowners in the diagnosis and management of disease problems. The Disease Identification program (http://www.turffiles.ncsu.edu/diseaseID/) contains information on 26 diseases commonly found in North Carolina. This program guides a user through the diagnosis by a process of elimination based on turf species, month(s) when symptoms are present, stand symptoms, plant symptoms, and fungal signs. Links to detailed descriptions of each disease, including image galleries, are available to the user at any time during the process. The Disease Management program (http://www.turffiles.ncsu.edu/diseasemgmt/) returns a list of active ingredients, ranked according to efficacy, based on the user's input of turfgrass species and diseases present. Up to 5 diseases can be selected at one time, and the active ingredients are sorted based on average efficacy against the selected diseases. The user may then select up to 5 active ingredients to be applied, and a new page is generated for each active ingredient that includes product trade names, application rates and intervals, application instructions, label precautions and restrictions, and recommended strategies to prevent fungicide resistance. Information sheets on each disease are also available, which summarize disease symptoms, factors that foster disease development, cultural control methods, and recommendations on the proper use and timing of fungicide applications.