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The Experts on Fungi ID07-29-09 | News

The Experts on Fungi ID

By Ashley Harbaugh




Fairy Ring Fungus


Experts in plant disease and pathology?EUR??,,????'?????<

Fairy Ring Fungus

Fairy ring fungus starts as a spore in the soil and then spreads throughout the grass, feeding on the organic matter in the soil. Fairy ring fungus can show up as a circular or semi-circular band of mushroom growths in the grass, rings of dark green grass, or rings of dead grass. If the symptoms are not all over the lawn, water and fertilizer can mask the fungus by greening up the rest of the lawn, and the mushrooms can be raked off. Aerating and drenching the soil with fungicide can help treat fairy ring fungus, but according to plant pathologist Patricia L. Sanders, these methods do not always work. In some cases, once a grass area is killed by the fairy ring fungus, nothing will grow back.






Necrotic Ring Spot
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Necrotic Ring Spot

This fungal disease appears as circular or ring-shaped patches of dead grass surrounding tufts of healthy, green grass. Leaf lesions can also occur and are variable in size, shape, and color. The Plant Disease Diagnostic Clinic at Cornell University says that necrotic ring spot can cause rot in the plant?EUR??,,????'?????<






Brown Patch


Brown Patch

Brown patch disease symptoms include leaf color change from healthy green to tan-brown with the leaves often turning a reddish color as they die. This reddish color is an early symptom that may not be seen, and only leaf death is reported. The dead grass generally appears in rings or circular patches, but it can also show as streaks or incomplete rings. Brown patch most commonly occurs in the summer during rainy, humid weather, but the fungus can remain in the soil for years. Dr. Lane Tredway, associate professor of plant pathology at North Carolina State University, says that good drainage, adequate nitrogen levels, and removal of dew on grass blades help reduce brown patch.






Rust


Rust

Rust first appears as light yellow flecks on the infected plant?EUR??,,????'?????<






Slime Mold


Slime Mold

Slime molds are initially slimy but mature to a powdery stage when spores are produced. They vary in color from black to powdery gray, pink, yellow or orange and usually occur in warm, wet weather. This fungus obtains nutrients from dead, organic matter in soil and thatch, so it does not cause any specific injury to plants except for the slimy coating on the plant?EUR??,,????'?????<






Powdery Mildew


Powdery Mildew

The powdery mildew fungus appears on infected grass as a white-to-gray dusty coating, most commonly occurring from July to September and during periods of cool, moist weather. The powder, a mixture of the fungus?EUR??,,????'?????<

 

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