Bacterial Disease on Creeping Bentgrass

From GlobalTurf

Symptoms of bacterial disease on a creeping bentgrass green in North Carolina, USA.

A view of a cross section of a creeping bentgrass leaf photographed using an electron microscope. Note the bacterium plugging the vessels, which will result in a “wilting” of the plant.

In a recent publication in Plant Disease researchers from Michigan State University report the first bacterial disease on creeping bentgrass (Agrostis stolonifera) in the United States. The disease was reported on Penn G-2 on greens from a golf course in North Carolina. The symptoms are similar to bacterial wilt on Poa annua caused by Xanthomonas translucens pv. poae. The bacterium that causes the bacterial disease on creeping bentgrass was identified in the Acidovorax genus. The bacterium was confirmed as the causal agent through Koch’s postulates.

This past summer in the United States turf decline has been reported due to bacteria. Caution should be practiced when bacteria assumed to be the problem. On creeping bentgrass and Poa annua greens under stress, it is common to find bacteria. However, it appears now that certain genus of bacteria can attack at least a few creeping bentgrass cultivars under high stress conditions.

Article link

http://apsjournals.apsnet.org/doi/abs/10.1094/PDIS-94-7-0922B

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