Talstar has been around for decades, but the pesticide recently received
two new improvements. Jon McDowell, FMC Professional Solutions'
commercial development manager, talks about these updates as well as
some herbicides for controlling crabgrass and broadleaf weeds.
Thursday, May 23, 2013
Wednesday, May 22, 2013
Turf toughie: Tifway hybrid bermudagrass
A MULTIPLE-CHOICE QUIZ THAT PUNISHES GUESSING
By Curt Harler
We all know how tough life used to be: Walking five miles to class through chin-high snow drifts… uphill both ways.
Being in Dr. Beth Guertal’s classes at Auburn can be just as daunting. We’ll tell you right up front that, to get this multiple-choice answer correct, you need to know something about all four of the possible answers. Guertal’s question to her turf students:
Which of the following is a true statement about Tifway hybrid bermudagrass?
A. Not used much anymore in Alabama, TifSport has largely replaced it
B. Viable seed is available
C. Also widely known as 419
D. An intraspecific hybrid
“This is sort of a ‘two tier’ multiple-choice question,” she notes. “It is two-tier for the following reasons: 1) every question is correct for some other grass, (in other words, none of my false answers for a questions are invented nonsense, and thus sometimes a student can ‘back into’ the correct answer); and, 2) to pick the correct answer a student also has to know other information, such as what an intraspecific hybrid is.”
The correct answer, Guertal reveals, is ‘C’. In many parts of the
Southeast, folks know Tifway by the other name of ‘419’. Sometimes
people put it together: ‘Tifway 419.’
“It is important that students know both names and that they are the same grass – often a client only knows one name or the other,” she says. Because Tifway is an interspecific hybrid (cross of two different bermudagrass species, typically Cynodon dactylon and Cynodon transvaalensis) it is sterile, and thus does not produce viable seed. It must be propagated via sprigs or sod. That is why options B and D are incorrect. An intraspecific hybrid is a cross between two (or more) bermudagrasses of the same species (these are also known as synthetics). An easy way to keep these straight is that “intraspecific” has an ‘a’ in it, just like the word ‘same’, and ”interspecific” has an ‘e’ in it, just like the word ‘different.” Answer A is wrong because Tifway is still widely sold and used throughout the Southeast.
By Curt Harler
We all know how tough life used to be: Walking five miles to class through chin-high snow drifts… uphill both ways.
Being in Dr. Beth Guertal’s classes at Auburn can be just as daunting. We’ll tell you right up front that, to get this multiple-choice answer correct, you need to know something about all four of the possible answers. Guertal’s question to her turf students:
Which of the following is a true statement about Tifway hybrid bermudagrass?
A. Not used much anymore in Alabama, TifSport has largely replaced it
B. Viable seed is available
C. Also widely known as 419
D. An intraspecific hybrid
“This is sort of a ‘two tier’ multiple-choice question,” she notes. “It is two-tier for the following reasons: 1) every question is correct for some other grass, (in other words, none of my false answers for a questions are invented nonsense, and thus sometimes a student can ‘back into’ the correct answer); and, 2) to pick the correct answer a student also has to know other information, such as what an intraspecific hybrid is.”
 |
| Eric Klaypas inspects the Tifway at Auburn University. Photo courtesy Auburn. |
“It is important that students know both names and that they are the same grass – often a client only knows one name or the other,” she says. Because Tifway is an interspecific hybrid (cross of two different bermudagrass species, typically Cynodon dactylon and Cynodon transvaalensis) it is sterile, and thus does not produce viable seed. It must be propagated via sprigs or sod. That is why options B and D are incorrect. An intraspecific hybrid is a cross between two (or more) bermudagrasses of the same species (these are also known as synthetics). An easy way to keep these straight is that “intraspecific” has an ‘a’ in it, just like the word ‘same’, and ”interspecific” has an ‘e’ in it, just like the word ‘different.” Answer A is wrong because Tifway is still widely sold and used throughout the Southeast.
Tuesday, May 21, 2013
Under the microscope: Pythium blight
Pythium blight (pathogen: Pythium spp. P. aultimum, P. aphanidermatum) during hot humid weather can be a serious problem on creeping bentgrass (Agrostis stolonifera) and annual bluegrasss (Poa annua) greens and to a lesser extent bermudagrass (Cynodon dactylon).
Generally, this disease is most severe on turf sites that are wet or
poorly drained and where the turf is under summertime stress. These
areas include high traffic areas where compaction occurs, like the ends
of fairways where mowers may turn. On tees, Pythium blight may initially appear around divots where the turf is under additional stress.
Pythium blight is active when temperatures occur between 86 and 95 F and nighttime temperatures remain above 70 F. However under extremely humid and wet conditions Pythium blight will occur at nighttime temperatures below 70 F. The risk of Pythium blight increases on turf growing in low-lying areas where water accumulates, on compacted soils, and on thatchy turf.
Symptoms on putting greens normally start off as small patches that rapidly increase in diameter becoming more irregular shaped. If you rub some of the leaves early in the morning they will appear oily (thus, the common name “grease spot”). Leaves become a light tan color as they shrivel. The leaves can become matted and covered with a white mass of mycelium. Generally speaking fungicide control is most effective when applied preventatively.
-- Karl Danneberger, Ph.D.
Pythium blight is active when temperatures occur between 86 and 95 F and nighttime temperatures remain above 70 F. However under extremely humid and wet conditions Pythium blight will occur at nighttime temperatures below 70 F. The risk of Pythium blight increases on turf growing in low-lying areas where water accumulates, on compacted soils, and on thatchy turf.
Symptoms on putting greens normally start off as small patches that rapidly increase in diameter becoming more irregular shaped. If you rub some of the leaves early in the morning they will appear oily (thus, the common name “grease spot”). Leaves become a light tan color as they shrivel. The leaves can become matted and covered with a white mass of mycelium. Generally speaking fungicide control is most effective when applied preventatively.
-- Karl Danneberger, Ph.D.
Monday, May 20, 2013
Four new ETQ fungicides from SipcamAdvan broaden control, expand use
SipcamAdvan expands its ETQ fungicide portfolio for season-long use with the addition of four new products. Echo Dyad ETQ, E-Scape ETQ, Eclipse ETQ and Sipcam Clearscape ETQ combine proven active ingredients with SipcamAdvan’s exclusive ETQ technology.
Echo Dyad ETQ contains chlorothalonil, E-Scape ETQ contains chlorothalonil and tebuconazole, Eclipse ETQ contains iprodione and Sipcam Clearscape ETQ contains tebuconazole. All incorporate SipcamAdvan ETQ technology to optimize turfgrass color, strength, density and consistency by protecting turf from UVA and UVB rays, heat and other stress factors.
“Our first ETQ fungicides were strictly chlorothalonil-based, but these new products contain additional active ingredients for season-long disease control,” George Furrer, director of specialty business for SipcamAdvan, said. “Professional turf managers benefit from an umbrella of protection encompassing the benefits of ETQ technology plus broader spectrum disease management and enhanced turf quality, while allowing adherence to annual use restrictions for chlorothalonil.”
Echo Dyad ETQ contains chlorothalonil, E-Scape ETQ contains chlorothalonil and tebuconazole, Eclipse ETQ contains iprodione and Sipcam Clearscape ETQ contains tebuconazole. All incorporate SipcamAdvan ETQ technology to optimize turfgrass color, strength, density and consistency by protecting turf from UVA and UVB rays, heat and other stress factors.
“Our first ETQ fungicides were strictly chlorothalonil-based, but these new products contain additional active ingredients for season-long disease control,” George Furrer, director of specialty business for SipcamAdvan, said. “Professional turf managers benefit from an umbrella of protection encompassing the benefits of ETQ technology plus broader spectrum disease management and enhanced turf quality, while allowing adherence to annual use restrictions for chlorothalonil.”
Friday, May 17, 2013
Golfdom Earns 9 Editorial Excellence Awards from the Turf & Ornamental Communicators Association
Golfdom won TOCA awards for:
Photography, Portrait/Personality -- "Like Father, Unlike Son"
Pictorial 1 (photo of golf course, park, sports field or any commercial or community area) -- "Healing Power"
Printed Magazines: Singe Page Design/Editorial -- "Golfdom Gallery"
New Media, Blogs --"The Golfdom Daily"
Writing, Commercial Publications, Column -- "A Course Built on Sacred Ground"
Writing, Commercial Publications, Turf Feature Article -- "All Zoyias are Not Created Equal"
Writing, Commercial Publications, Product Information Article -- "Enemy at the Gates"
Writing, Commercial Publications, Business Management -- "The Guy's Got Guts (and Goats!)"
Writing, Commercial Publications, Headline Writing -- "The Guy's Got Guts (and Goats!)"
"We had a very strong showing at TOCA once again this year," said Kevin Stoltman, president and CEO of North Coast Media. "This recognition validates the hard work of our editorial team, led by Seth Jones, who is so dedicated to delivering superintendents must-read resources."
Wednesday, May 15, 2013
Matt Shaffer on U.S. Open conditions
Matt Shaffer discusses the arrival of the 2013 U.S. Open, the weather leading up to the event, and what players will get when they find their ball in Merion's rough (Here's a hint: it won't be perfect).
Look for part two in the next few weeks...
Monday, May 13, 2013
Happy first anniversary, North Coast Media!
If you missed getting a card in the mail, that's OK — it snuck up on us, too.North Coast Media celebrated its first anniversary recently. The Cleveland-based publishing company publishes Golfdom as well as Landscape Management, Pest Management Professional, Pit and Quarry, LP Gas and GPS World, and in my opinion it's about the friendliest group of journalists and designers you'll ever meet.
So if you need a reason to celebrate on a Monday... well, here you go. Happy anniversary, NCM!
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