Recent STRI research
trials prove that preventative disease control programmes outperform curative
options when analysed for turf quality, colour and presence of Microdochium
Patch.
STRI research manager,
Mark Ferguson, explains these results and stresses the importance of
preventative programmes in light of the recent loss of curative active
ingredient iprodione.
“When measuring
disease presence, the STRI team looked specifically at the level of
Microdochium Patch cover on the plots. As expected, the preventative treatments
performed significantly better than the curative ones.
“The trials ran over
the course of eight months, comparing nine preventative and three curative
programmes, as well as one untreated plot.
“The first three
programmes used purely preventative fungicides from Bayer. The rest of the
preventative plots used a combination from Rigby Taylor and Headland Amenity
teamed with plant health products to reflect a more realistic approach,” says
Mark.
In general,
preventative programmes five to seven (see Figure 1) showed the most consistent
results across turf colour, quality and Microdochium Patch presence by using an
integrated approach with both fungicides and plant health products.
“The fungicides within
the curative programmes (11 -13) were applied as and when disease developed to
an unacceptable level, mimicking traditional control strategies.
“It’s important to
note that none of the trial plots had any cultural controls or biological
practices applied prior to or during the trial, other than mowing and
switching, which was carried out when necessary,” adds Mark.
Bayer technical
manager, Dr Colin Mumford, says the trial results show that even the most
‘bullet-proof’ curative programme was significantly outperformed by the
preventative options.
“The disease control
landscape has changed and it’s more important than ever before that
greenkeepers don’t wait for disease to appear as they may have done in the
past,” he says.
