Rapid blight

Updated June 15, 2022

With a threat temperature of greater than 45F (7C), rapid blight can occur in hot, warm, cool and even just plain cold weather. Attacking a wide variety of cool season turf varieties, this disease, caused by Labyrinthula terrestris can be devastating to greens, tees, fairways and even roughs. Key information on the biology and management of this disease is summarized below:

Causative organism: Labyrinthula terrestris, a unicellular organism classified in the Myxomycota (slime molds)

Susceptible turf types: perennial ryegrass, Lolium…