Severe Pythium snow blight was found on Kentucky bluegrass turf in a golf course fairway in mid-eastern Hokkaido, Japan. The pathogen was identified as Pythium iwayamai based on morphology, growth temperature relations and sequence of the rDNA internal transcribed spacer gene. Pathogenicity to the host plant was confirmed by pot inoculation tests. Pythium snow blight is one of the most destructive turf grass diseases in Canada and the United States, and Pythium iwayamai Ito is a major causal agent ofthe disease. Snow blight disease caused by Pythium spp. has been known on grasses in meadow conditions. No study has been conducted on Pythium snow blight in golf courses in Japan, although P iwayamai has been isolated from zoysia (Zoysia spp.) green inthe golf courses.
展开▼
