Summer survival kit – Turf Science Live report

Summer turf diseases, particularly dollar spot, now tend to occur earlier in the season and be more severe in situations where winter cold periods have been limited, reports Syngenta Technical Manager, Pete May. 

That’s of serious concern this season, following relatively mild and wet weather over the winter months across most of the country, he warns. 

Speaking to greenkeepers and turf managers at Turf Science Live earlier this month, Pete highlighted the need for a fully integrated approach to relieve pressure and minimise impacts.  

“Syngenta Climate Shift modelling has pinpointed there are now fewer hours below 2⁰C that are crucial to slow down or stop pathogen development in winter for most UK sites. That’s exacerbated by more hours over 15⁰C, where summer diseases are more comfortable and turf is under greater stress. 

“Impacts of drought and light stress closely mirror the temperature weather patterns,” he says. 

Top of the action plan to reduce disease pressure is adapting the environment to make it less favourable to disease. Reducing the duration of leaf wetness, through dew removal, improving air flow and irrigation scheduling, for example, is crucial for dollar spot management, Pete advocates.

“With all ITM controls, however, it’s a balancing act where reducing the risk for one pathogen, could exacerbate another. Adapting nutrition to lower dollar spot pressure, for example, may increase the threat from anthracnose breaking out. Or the mechanical damage from aeration opening wounds for disease infection to get in.  

“Furthermore, in all instances the effects of stress will increase the impacts of summer disease and the ability of turf plants to recover. With climate shift there is a clear trend to greater frequency of prolonged and more intense heat, light and drought stress.”

Pete highlighted new Syngenta research that has identified how biostimulants can enhance the plant’s natural ability to withstand stress, which has an important role in boosting its own protection from disease effects and maintaining turf quality. This adaptation, or upregulation, of genetic activity essentially primes the plant ready to physiologically adapt to stress periods quicker and to cope more effectively . 

The ability of new Vyplenza biostimulant to upregulate gene activity enables plants to withstand effects of excess sunlight by up to 23%, for example, which can hugely help plants through the summer months, he advises. 

Syngenta genetic studies of Comprevo biostimulant action in the plant have also shown it positively influences the plants’ natural gene activity in response to heat and drought, by 8% and 19% respectively. This essentially enables plants to initially withstand stress before visible effects occur, and helps faster recovery when stress factors ease off.

“Biostimulants are an increasingly important part of an integrated approach to plant health, alongside Qualibra wetting agent to more effectively manage moisture in both wet and dry conditions and Primo Maxx II programmes that encourage rooting and vigour.”

He also advises that in any ITM strategy, fungicides have an essential role to protect turf quality through periods of high pressure at critical times. While there are existing options that are highly effective against dollar spot and anthracnose, such as Ascernity and Instrata Elite, at Turf Science Live he highlights new Syngenta fungicide technology R&D is responding to the changing climate pressures faced by greenkeepers. 

That includes potential for new active ingredients for turf that are highly active on key summer diseases, as well as formulation innovation that ensures fungicide performance is better adapted to changing climatic conditions.  

“These new developments will be essential to offer more flexible options to manage turf under increasing pressure of climate shift, where disease pressures last longer and are more intense,” Pete advises. “They are designed to work alongside cultural controls and biostimulant programmes within an effective ITM strategy.”