Last summer was one of the hottest on record throughout the northern U.S., and so far, this summer isn’t looking much cooler. As most sports turf managers know, Pythium blight thrives on cool-season golf course turf in conditions of high heat and high humidity.
“Except for a few days last summer, Pythium pressure was constant from late June through August,” said Dr. Bruce Clarke, turfgrass pathologist at Rutgers University. “During that time period, we tested some 40 different fungicide treatments, including 15 different products. It was the most severe test of Pythium products that we have had in 30 years.”
The Rutgers University research trials started on June 18 and went through July 23, 2010. Fungicides were applied on every 7 or 14 days during that period. By late July, Clarke said the untreated plots were obliterated by Pythium, so they had to stop testing.
“Segway® fungicide has consistently been one of the best products in our Pythium trials over the past three years,” noted Dr. Clarke. “In fact, it provided excellent control of Pythium last year even at the lower rate of 0.45 fl. oz. per 1,000 sq. ft every 14 days.”
In an unusually hot, humid summer such as 2010, Segway was one of only two fungicides that suppressed disease to acceptable levels in the Rutgers Pythium trials. Segway delivered 80 to 98 percent control, compared to untreated turf.