Control of Dollar Spot

Seashore paspalum is growing in use and popularity on golf course greens, fairways, sport fields and landscapes because it tolerates saline soils and water. Dollar spot, caused by Sclerotinia homoecarpa, is one of the major fungal diseases affecting turf quality. There are few chemical options for dollar spot control of S. paspalum. UGA plant pathologists evaluated the efficacy of several fungicides against S. homoeocarpa on S. paspalum to develop chemical options of control. Boscalid (Emerald), propiconazole (Banner Maxx), triticonazole (Trinity), propiconazole + azoxystrobin (Headway), triticonazole + pyraclostrobin (Honor) and vinclozolin (Curalan) were evaluated and found to be highly efficacious against dollar spot in S. paspalum. Recent results indicate that chlorothalonil + acibenzolar (Daconil Action) fluazinam (Secure) were also efficacious in controlling the disease. Results obtained in these investigations provide turfgrass managers with new disease management tools, improved disease control, and better turf quality.