Gray leaf spot invades new turf
January 1, 2003
Bottom line: Gray leaf spot caused by the fungus Pyricularia grisea has been occurring in epidemic proportions on golf courses since 1995. From its initial epidemic on perennial ryegrass in the central U.S., it has since spread eastward as far as New England, and westward as far as California. Though perennial ryegrass is the most sensitive host, this disease also infects Italian ryegrass, tall fescue and St. Augustinegrass. In 2003, kikuyugrass was added to the list following epidemics in Southern…