Blackleg

There are various names for the fungal disease blackleg, such as Gaeumannomyces, Ophiobulus, and take-all patch.

Blackleg is characterized by spots on the lawn that are initially yellowish to bronze in color. Later, the typical ring-shaped symptom develops, which appears in the same spot every year. The base of the stem and the roots turn brown, and the plant can be easily pulled out of the ground.

Factors that promote infestation:

• pH above 7

• Drought stress

• Too much moisture

• High humidity (combined with warm weather)

• Nutrient deficiency

• Frequent sanding (This leads to a lack of antagonistic fungi, since other soil fungi are absent, and to nutrient deficiencies)

Preventive measures:

• A balanced and consistent supply of nutrients

• Optimize Airflow

• Optimizing irrigation techniques; irrigate in the early morning hours to allow the crop to dry quickly

• Optimize the pH level