Diseases strike early
March 10, 2008
Although it seems early in the year for diseases to strike, several foliar pathogens have hit southern locations where the threat temperatures have exceeded 60 F (15.5 C) and abundant moisture from rainfall was present. The diseases include dollar spot caused by Sclerotinia homeocarpa, red thread caused by Laetisaria fuciformis and brown ring patch caused by Waitea circinata var. circinata.
Based on our threat temperature guidelines, brown ring patch occurred exactly when we would have expected, but dollar spot and…