White leaf

White leaf disease is characterized by the appearance of bleached, white patches of turf foliage. It has been observed on a wide range of turf species, including poa, bent, bermuda, kikuyu and paspalum. By far the most common occurrences are on poa and bermudagrass.

Scientists have been able to find a pathogen associated with white leaf in certain situations in Asia and Europe, where they have isolated a microorganism known as a phytoplasma. Phytoplasmas are technically described as fastidious prokaryotes…