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Bacteria Wilt on greens...Any advice???

31 posts
  1. Virgil Range
    Virgil Range avatar
    0 posts
    6/30/2012 5:06 AM
    Yesterday I received a phone call from UofMo turf Dr Lee Miller about a soil sample i sent him thursday. I have Bacteria Wilt on my greens. Not just a little...its everywhere.

    Has anyone seen this before. If so how do you manage it with 100 degree temps. It is will in the lime green stage. But within a few days im sure ill be seeing some decline.
    Its disappointing to work so hard to get the course in outstanding shape and then just watch the greens die. Not fun at all.
    Any advice or comments will help.
    Thanks
    Virgil Range



  2. Rosenthal Gregg
    Rosenthal Gregg avatar
    6/30/2012 10:06 AM
    Try this post from U of Maryland Turf Council, it has some recommendations, mostly based on issues with Poa though. It seems more rare for it to attack bent. However some newer varieties seem to be open for attack from bacterial wilt. Good luck, but if you look up on Internet there are several other information sources. I am a Maryland Grad and good past experience with Pete Dernoden who just retired!!!

    http://www.mdturfcouncil.org/pdf/ACF145.pdf



  3. Paul Jonas
    Paul Jonas avatar
    0 posts
    6/30/2012 10:06 AM
    Virgil,
    I have dealt with BW the last two years; try to follow the usual stress prevent measures. Raise mowing height, solid front rollers, disinfect mowers between greens ( Clorox solution ), try not to mow when they are wet . I would stop any topdressing practices to prevent opening up any wounds to the plant. Treat them with kid gloves the next few months. Chemical wise signature/fore, dac action might help, it sure won't hurt them. Don't listen to the dry them out garbage, it won't work. Stay on top of them; don't over-water but from experience don't go the other way or they will check out. You will be able to ride it out and as soon as cooler nights return it will be gone. Just my 2 cents.

    Paul Jonas
    Flint Hills National



  4. Schaefer Dan
    Schaefer Dan avatar
    6/30/2012 12:06 PM
    Virgil,

    Zerotol 12oz/1000 three days straight. Spray right after mowing while leaf is still open from cut. Bacterial will be streaming out from the cut and this is the best time to attack it. Give me a call if you want. Still got the same number 6187196057. All zerotol is is a steriolizer, very safe in heat. All it is is Hydrogen dioxide, but it works.

    Dan Schaefer



  5. Melvin Waldron
    Melvin Waldron avatar
    43 posts
    6/30/2012 4:06 PM
    Virgil, did Dr. Miller have any recommendations?

    I know it's early and you just got the diagnoses, hopefully you have already got some good suggestions and will get some more. If you can keep us updated on what your doing and how it's working for you would be great, and I would pass that info on to Dr. Miller as well. It can help others of us here in the state.

    I will regularly go out once a month with Signature/Dac Ultrex.

    I wonder if Daconil Action would help? I am putting that out when I need to make an extra Primo app according to the 200 degree growing degree model.

    Good Luck and Thanks!

    Mel

    Melvin H. Waldron III, CGCS, Horton Smith Golf Course, City of Springfield/Greene County MO

  6. Virgil Range
    Virgil Range avatar
    0 posts
    7/1/2012 5:07 AM
    Thanks everyone. Dan, I will be calling you today sometime.
    Yes Mel, Ill keep posting on there what im doing and what is going on.
    I am starting a Signature and Dac Action program every 7 days. Im was on a regular foliar fert every 14 days but will be reducing the N in those apps.
    Dr Miller suggested a few things. Raise height of cut- im at .180 ( wow very high huh), mow every other day in the evenings only. No mowings when the course is wet, and clean the reels with a 10% bleach solution to clean reels after each green. and afternoon syringing.

    I also am going to try Turf Screen. Its a new product that reflects the bad rays from the sun and suppose to keep the turf cooler. Alot of people in Chicago is using it. Thats where Im getting it from.

    All of these process definitely helps. June 4th I raised the height from .130 to .160, mow one day and roll the next day. I put down signature and manicure and I have been going into work everyday since June 4th and hand syringe. I got lucky by doing these things and not knowing I had this bacteria. Greens could be alot worse if I hadn't started all these ahead of time. If I knew I had this I would have done these in May. I did vent greens with .250 cross tines. on June 5th. I wish I would have never done that. I feel that it really made the bacteria show itself. I had a venting scheduled for July and Aug...looks like im not going that.

    Off to work. These next 60 days are going to be hell. This year has been hard enough already, Pump house problems(been dealing with it for 1.5 yrs now- just last week I got it fixed. Finaly someone diagnosed the right problem. No more coming in at 2 am and hitting the reset button after 5 min.),building a usga nursery green, and now this. which is the worst possible thing for my greens.
    I would love to have someone or many people come out and take a look at things. More important, I will need help with the membership. My head is going to be on a platter this fall and from the sound of it as long as this heat sticks around, turf loss is guaranteed. I think thats whats going to help me keep my job, provide information to the members. Its not going to take long to decline...which means its not going to take long for members to start talking smack about me. :-)

    Ill keep everyone posted

    Virgil



  7. Graham Kornmeyer
    Graham Kornmeyer avatar
    0 posts
    7/1/2012 8:07 AM
    Has anyone tried Junction?



  8. Schaefer Dan
    Schaefer Dan avatar
    7/1/2012 10:07 AM
    Virgil,

    Yes please call me today. We dealt with "Bacterial infection" last year on two of our greens. Zerotol is what worked as a curative for us. And then yes i would follow up with a regular dac action program. This disease is nasty. Try to set up some shop fans with generators around your trouble greens if you think you dont have enough air flow to these areas. This disease seems to move fast if things arent corrected quickly. Also cool down these areas with frequent syringing with a light mist in the afternoon.

    Dan



  9. Virgil Range
    Virgil Range avatar
    0 posts
    7/1/2012 7:07 PM
    Dan,
    I'll call you in the morning. Your the only person saying to put Zerotol out. Gotta trust ya since I know ya from the good old days. Lmao!! I'm having a salesrep bring dac action, signature and Zerotol tomorrow. Where r u at? It's been hot and going to stay hot for a while. 95+ everday for the 10 day forecast.

    Talk to you tomorrow.
    Virg



  10. Virgil Range
    Virgil Range avatar
    0 posts
    7/1/2012 7:07 PM
    Here are pics of the last 48 hrs of a spot on 8 green.



  11. Schaefer Dan
    Schaefer Dan avatar
    7/1/2012 7:07 PM
    Im at CC of St. Albans just outside west St. Louis County. Zerotol was a recommendation from pathologist Barb Corwin, it worked. Works wonders for anthractnose too.

    Dan



  12. Virgil Range
    Virgil Range avatar
    0 posts
    7/3/2012 5:07 AM
    Talked with Dr Miller yesterday. He is coming out to MCC on Thursday to take some plugs and look at things.

    On my first post I said Dr Miller had diagnosed Bacteria Wilt. I was wrong. Streaming was observed and there is a bacteria problem but the identification is still being done and will take some time to get. This bacteria is different than any other pic of bacteria wilt that I have found on the web. Lots of pics with almost dollar spot looking areas of dead turf. Not in this case. There are large patches of this everywhere.

    Today I will be trying Zerotol on 3 greens. I will keep posting on how it goes.



  13. Virgil Range
    Virgil Range avatar
    0 posts
    7/20/2012 4:07 AM
    Update...

    Well things are looking much better these days. I dont think the bacteria is gone but its definitely suppressed.
    So I applied 3 applications of ZeroTol at 12oz per 1000 3 days in a row. Ive also went with Signature and Dac Action on a 14 day program. Ive lowered by N and took out Primo.
    So far im keeping my fingers crossed. Things havent looks this good in about a month or so. Another key maintenance practice was to put walking greens mowers out instead of the rider. Since doing that, we havent scalped one time. Definitely walking puts less stress on the turf.

    Thanks everyone for all the advice and suggestions. If you have bacteria decline, not saying the things ive done will cure it but it will definitely help.

    Virgil



  14. Ronald Conard
    Ronald Conard avatar
    4 posts
    7/20/2012 5:07 AM
    Good work. Your greens look great. Hang in there.



  15. Virgil Range
    Virgil Range avatar
    0 posts
    7/27/2012 5:07 AM
    Im still hanging in there. I am certain the ZeroTol helped. I have seen a few small lighter green patches but no elongation on any of them. Im keeping a very close eye on things but so far so good.
    Im hoping we have only 30 days of heat left. After that its smooth sailing.



  16. Virgil Range
    Virgil Range avatar
    0 posts
    7/30/2012 4:07 AM
    The Bacteria is back. Its really showed itself the past 2 days. Not for sure what im going to do now. hummm.

    more to follow.



  17. Kenneth Ingram
    Kenneth Ingram avatar
    18 posts
    7/30/2012 7:07 AM
    Virgil there is also alot of Yellow Spot of Bentgrass occuring here in the mid-atlantic. The pictures you show definately look like bacterial wilt. Make sure the new yellowing you are seeing has the etiliation and twisting. If not it could be Yellow Spot. Dac, Banner, and Alliette would help in that case. Kenneth Ingram, UMD.



  18. Thomas Nelson
    Thomas Nelson avatar
    0 posts
    7/30/2012 9:07 AM
    Just curious, did you re-introduce primo?

    Tom Nelson
    Cullasaja Club
    Highlands, NC



  19. Virgil Range
    Virgil Range avatar
    0 posts
    7/30/2012 6:07 PM
    Still no primo. Going to keep it out the rest of the year.

    There is elongation. Some areas are not as fast as others but yes its there.

    Going to see if ArmorTech Sonnet Fungicide helps out. Some good results are coming from the Chicago area. This was a cheap app. 240.00/acre

    With the Sonnet, signature and dac action, Im not going to try anything else. Someone asked about another app of ZeroTol. Hummm. That's a lot is hydrogen dioxide in 1 yr. I'll check on what the label says. Everyone I've talked to hasn't has to put another app out. What do you think?

    I'll take better pics tomorrow and post them.



  20. Necker Alexander D
    Necker Alexander D avatar
    7/30/2012 9:07 PM
    Virgil,

    I have been dealing with etiolated bentgrass since the beginning of July. I soil tested patches with symptoms and patches without. The areas with symptoms have a higher concentrate of total Nitrogen. I have stopped any nitrogen applications until the weather breaks.

    I would suggest looking to your concentrations of nitrogen in the soil. I am not sure this is the cause but on my greens there is pretty strong correlation.

    I have also reduced my Primo rates and introduced Trimmit in the tank at low rates.

    Good luck,

    Alex



  21. Virgil Range
    Virgil Range avatar
    0 posts
    7/31/2012 4:07 AM
    Yes I have taken out the N and Primo in my apps. Haven t sprayed either of those since Mid June. I'm my case,i don't think N and Primo has much to do with it. About a week ago there wasn't any signs of bacteria, now its all over. I haven't done anything different. I think I have such a bad case of this that a few apps of ZeroTol definitely suppressed it but not a cure.



  22. Virgil Range
    Virgil Range avatar
    0 posts
    8/23/2012 4:08 AM
    an update on things.

    Things are looking very good. I haven't seen signs of BW in a few weeks now. I think the cooler weather has a big play in it. But I have started going back to normal maintenance. I'm back to riding greens in the morning. I did vent greens with .250 cross tines with a heavy topdressing this past Monday.
    I haven't put Primo back into the spray program. This might be something that I leave out for the rest of the year. I'm still going with the high rate of Dac Action. No more signature because of the price. Ive put 2 apps of a BioFungicide from ArmorTech called Sonnet. Im not for sure which product is helping the most but the combination of things is keeping the BW suppressed.
    Although I have got things under control here, im still getting emails from other superintendents asking about the BW. Just the other day a Canadian Superintendent is asking for suggestions. The biggest CC in my area has it also. I also think the public course across town has it also. I played last week and saw lots and lots of light green patches but no turf as been lost. This leads to me think that a factor in the BW is the water supply. I am sending off water samples to get tested for just about everything. Not for sure what they will come back with and even if the results are bad, how do you fix it.
    Thanks for everyone that read and replied to my post. Its the #1 post on the GCSAA form website. And also fell free to contact me if you have any questions or am needing help with BW.

    Virgil



  23. Virgil Range
    Virgil Range avatar
    0 posts
    6/18/2013 3:06 AM
    Its Back!!! Yesterday the Bacteria showed itself at MCC. Totally different weather than 2012, but yet it is still here. :-( . I will be coming up with a plan for attack, similar to last year. I'm going to check my notes from last year but I think its within a week of last years date when it showed up. Also the spot on 8 green this year is the exact same spot it was last year. Kinda weird.
    Here are 2 pics of the 1st sign of bacteria.
    For those of you that have the bacteria last year keep your eyes open. Its still there!! mine is.

    Virgil



  24. Anthony Nysse
    Anthony Nysse avatar
    1 posts
    6/18/2013 6:06 AM
    This is a pretty informative video from those that have dealt with BW.

    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rAYX1Mm2OFU



  25. Tony Altenhofen
    Tony Altenhofen avatar
    0 posts
    6/18/2013 11:06 PM
    I am questioning verticutting practices? It does seem leaf blade is laying very flat?



  26. Virgil Range
    Virgil Range avatar
    0 posts
    6/20/2013 3:06 AM
    I believe verticutting would allow the bacteria to spread since you are opening the canopy. I debated to do this last week and I'm so happy I decided to hold off on it. If I would have verticut I think I would have the bacteria would have spread to all the greens. So far its only on 3 of them.
    I applied Zerotol at 12 oz per 1000 on the 18th. Today i will be putting out signature, dac action and sonnet. Raising height from .125 to .135. Putting solid Rollers on greens mower. Removing spikers on roller and putting on solid rollers, Mowing in early afternoon or early evening when the plant is dry and taking Primo out of the spray program.
    Last year there was talk about Growth Regulators and Bacteria being somewhat related to each other. I started the year without Primo and ended up applying because membership wanted faster/smoother greens. Now I am wishing I would have pushed harder to stay away from primo.
    Has anyone not sprayed growth regulators this year that had the bacteria last year? If so have you seen a difference in the turf or everything the same?
    The past 2 days it has not spread, got worse or got better. Greens have been great all spring. On an average they have been rolling a 12. I don't think i can keep those speeds up but lets hope I get a handle on the bacteria and limit the amount of stress it causes.
    Virgil



  27. Michael Posey
    Michael Posey avatar
    0 posts
    6/21/2013 11:06 PM
    Make sure you do your research on the Daconil Action and also ask yourself why Syngenta is getting supplemental labels for lower use rates of the Action formulation, which was already a lower rate than regular Daconil. The "Action", Acibenzolar-S-methyl, has been used in crop production for several years now. If you look up products that contain it, Daconil Action is the only one without the following: Restrictions- should be applied to healthy, actively growing plants. Do not apply to plants that are stressed due to drought, excessive moisture, cold weather, or herbicide injury, etc. Have I used it? Yes. Will I use it again? Yes Will I use it every 7 to 14 days on bentgrass in Alabama? No way, not if it is known to cause damage to other crops under stress. Seems like there were some Poa guys on here last summer hypothesizing that the Daconil Action was causing them some problems. I think it is another tool in the toolbox, like DMI's. Like DMI's, I am not going to risk more plant injury for the benefits the product provides. Just my opinion.



  28. Melvin Waldron
    Melvin Waldron avatar
    43 posts
    6/22/2013 10:06 AM
    Thanks Mike for the heads up.

    I am going to double check my records from last summer, but I seem to remember using some Daconil Action in the summer, I do know for sure I was using it spring and fall, usually in my mix with Primo and CPR.

    I do know off the top of my head that if I was spraying Signature, I would use Daconil Ultrex in my tank with my Primo, Gary's Green and Sili-Kal-B. I never had a problem with that and didn't feel like taking the chance switching up products on something I had been using for over 12 years.

    Mel

    Melvin H. Waldron III, CGCS, Horton Smith Golf Course, City of Springfield/Greene County MO

  29. Melvin Waldron
    Melvin Waldron avatar
    43 posts
    6/22/2013 6:06 PM
    Just checked, we did use Daconil Action last summer with Primo and CPR. I don't recall any specific issues. We did use the Daconil at 2 oz. per 1000, Primo was 3 oz. per acre (I am using 6 oz. this year) and CPR at 3 oz. per 1000.

    Bentgrass, (Penncross as I have been told) mowed at .156 in transition zone.

    Mel

    Melvin H. Waldron III, CGCS, Horton Smith Golf Course, City of Springfield/Greene County MO

  30. Virgil Range
    Virgil Range avatar
    0 posts
    6/23/2013 3:06 AM
    I havent seen any damage from using Dac Action on stressed Turf. I think that 90% of labels say dont apply during heat, drought, and or during any stress periods. Even on the foliar ferts it says that. I used the dac action and sig last year and had great success.
    It looks like the bacteria is residing a little. I see some improvement but i know how fast it can decline also. Im using the dac at 3.5 oz, primo at 6 oz, signature at 4oz, sonnet at 2.5oz, and some foliar ferts. With 2.5oz of turfscreen. I know there is another post about pigments and ill add to that in a sec but TurfScreen is the shit. Temps in the 90's, winds 20 mph + and i have no need to take a hose to them. I have been probing in the afternoons and i havent found 1 dry spot. And I mean not one. Its kinda weird not having to take a hose out for some cool down syringes but hey, its not going to hurt my feelings at all if i dont have to carry that hose around.



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