Fungal diseases of lawns and greens on golf courses: difficulty of visual diagnosis and expectation of new specialities.

摘要

Fungal diseases affecting 57 greens on 16 golf courses in the Midi-Pyrenes, France, were visually assessed in 1997 and samples were analysed in the laboratory by polymerase chain reaction (PCR). Three fungal diseases were detected visually: those caused by Pythium and Fusarium, and dollar spot (Sclerotinia homoeocarpa). Of the samples analysed by PCR, 57.5% were infected with one fungal genus, 28.75% with 2 genera and 5% with 3 genera. Pythium was the dominant genus, but Fusarium and Curvularia were also common. The importance of the results in determining the choice of fungicides for use in control strategies against fungal diseases on golfing greens is discussed in the light of the difficulty in accurate visual diagnosis.