Management Tips 

• Preventative fungicide program during high risk periods. 
• Water early in the day.
• Water infrequently and deeply.
• Removal of excessive thatch.
• Do not over fertiliser turf with nitrogen.
• Avoid mowing during moist, hot weather.
• Promote good light penetration into the turf canopy.
• Increase air circulation to speed the drying process of the turf.

Fungicidal control

The following products have label recommendation for Pythium root control in Australia:  

Refer to label for full details.

Suggested Programme

Contact Syngenta for assistance in creating a custom GreenSure Plan for your course.

PYTHIUM ROOT

Causal Agent

Susceptible Turfgrass

Mature cool and warm season grasses 

Symptoms

• Affected turf may appear thin, off colour and slow growing.
• This may occur in small patches or as a general decline and loss of large turfgrass area.
• Under cool, wet conditions symptoms may first appear as small, diffuse yellow patches of turf 4 to 7 cm in diameter.
• As temperatures rise, large areas of turf may wilt, turn brown and die.
• In severely infected plants, crowns may appear water-soaked and root systems are greatly reduced in volume and vigour.
• Roots and crown may be extensively discoloured.
• No foliar mycelium is evident during infection.

Conditions Favouring Disease 

• Hot days (30 C - 35 C), humid or rainy weather when night temperatures are warm (above 20 C).
• Relative humidity exceeding 90% for at least 14 hours and a minium temperature not falling below 20 C.
• Pythium root and crown rot occurs in areas with high soil moisture, poor drainage and low light.
• Areas with low mowing height and excessive wear.

General Comments 

• Pythium Root is common on highly maintained turf, such as golf course and bowling greens.
• Although symptoms of pythium root are typically non-distinctive, this disease can appear as yellow, irregularly shaped patches.

Distribution