Walking through your rust-infected lawn
may be just the ticket if you like orange shoes. However, if orange
is not your favorite color, you probably will not appreciate this fungal
turf disease!
Rust is a turf-grass disease (caused by a Puccinia species) that
is most noticeable in late August and September and has shown up in many
lawns this past week. The rust-colored, tiny spores of the fungus rub
off easily on shoes, fingers, clothes and even animals romping through
the grass. Rust infections are most common on Kentucky bluegrass and perennial
ryegrass lawns. Rust will cause the turf to take on a generally yellow
appearance and symptoms appear to be more evident when the weather is
dry. Control recommendations include using blends of resistant turf cultivars
and providing adequate water and fertility levels to keep the grass growing
vigorously during dry periods. Fungicide treatments are recommended only
if the lawn has experienced continuous heavy infections.
Refer to http://www.agcom.purdue.edu/AgCom/Pubs/BP/BP-110-W.pdf for more information on Rust on Turf.
--Gail Ruhl, Interim P&PDL Director, Botany and Plant Pathology,
Purdue University
Figures 1 & 2 courtesy of Purdue Turf Program
Figures 3 & 4 courtesy of Jonathan Ferris, Henry County Extension
Office |
Figure 1. Rust on turf
Figure 2. Rust on shoes
Figure 3. Overall view of
rust-infected turf
Figure 4. Close-up of rust pustules
on leaves
|
