Keeping Your Course up to Par: Dollar Spot and Anthracnose Resistance Management

Although dollar spot was first identified in the 1920s, and anthracnose appeared on golf courses prior to the 1970s, effective treatment is still a challenge for golf course superintendents. Treating tough diseases like these has led to the overuse of certain chemistries and resistance issues. To effectively manage anthracnose and dollar spot, a planned program approach that incorporates fungicides with different FRAC codes is key.

Anthracnose is associated with stressed annual bluegrass, which is most prevalent on greens and tees. Several fungicides have performed well on anthracnose in the past, but their use is now limited because resistance to some chemistries has emerged.

Dollar spot can infect many species of turfgrass, especially creeping bentgrass and annual bluegrass greens, tees and fairways. Single-site fungicides, which bind to a specific enzyme or interfere with a single metabolic process, have been used to treat dollar spot since the late 1960s. However, annual application limits and fungicide resistance have developed since then, leading to a demand for new control methods. 

Fight Resistance
Velistafungicide adds a new single-site active ingredient as a control option for anthracnose and dollar spot in an agronomic program along with rotational partners such as Daconil Action™ or Secure® fungicides.  Velista can be used at a low rate of 0.3 to 0.5 oz. as a tank-mix or rotational partner, and is currently the only SDHI fungicide in the turf market labeled to control anthracnose that also controls dollar spot. Fortunately, Daconil® brand fungicides, including Daconil Action fungicide, have a lower chance of developing resistance and can be used as a base for the control of anthracnose.

Tank-mixing any of the above solutions with Secure provides a solution to resistance management as Secure has no known resistance. Secure is a multi-contact fungicide containing the active ingredient fluazinam, which disrupts the production of energy at multiple metabolic sites within the fungal cell. Secure is the only registered fungicide for turf in FRAC group 29.

Building a foundation program that includes a multi-site contact fungicide in every spray is recommended for a solid disease program. Twelve applications of Secure fungicide used in rotation with Daconil Action can help protect your course all season long with multi-site contact on both greens and fairways. Secure should be applied at a rate of 0.5 fl. oz./1,000 sq. ft. (six acres per gallon) every 14 days.

The following practices are recommended for anthracnose and dollar spot control with Secure as part of your summertime agronomic program:

  • Anthracnose – Daconil Action should be applied prior to infection and works best when tank mixed or rotated with other fungicides such as Velista, Appear®, Secure, Banner Maxx® II, Medallion® SC, Heritage or Headway®.
  • Dollar spot – Apply Secure preventively, starting when conditions become favorable for disease: temperatures between 59°F to 86°F, continuous high humidity, cool nights and intense dews. Rotating with Daconil Action can help ensure that a multi-site contact fungicide is in every spray. For broad-spectrum disease control that lasts 14 days, tank mix with the labeled rates of Velista, Banner Maxx II or Headway.

Application Recommendations
Since curative treatments may put your turf at risk for fungicide resistance, it is best to use preventive applications.  A strong summertime disease program for greens should start with fungicides that control anthracnose and can be supplemented as needed to combat dollar spot.  Tank-mixing and alternating fungicides is recommended for both diseases to combat resistance. 

For more information on resistance management solutions to control these challenging diseases, contact your local Syngenta territory manager.


©2015 Syngenta. Important: Always read and follow label instructions. Some products may not be registered for sale or use in all states. Please check with your state or local extension service before buying or using Syngenta products. Syngenta supports a FIFRA Section 2(ee) recommendation for the use of Daconil Action for control of dollar spot. Please see the Section 2(ee) recommendation to confirm that the recommendation is applicable in your state. Appear®, Banner Maxx®, Daconil®, Daconil Action™, Headway®, Heritage™, Medallion®, Velista™ and the Syngenta logo are trademarks of a Syngenta Group Company.  Secure® is a trademark of Ishihara Sangyo Kaisha, LTD.

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