Fairy Ring: Biology and Ecology

FBasidiomycete (“mushroom”) fungi

F> 60 species of soil inhabiting fungi have been associated with fairy ring

FColonize soil, thatch, mat, and organic matter

Agaricus arvensis

Agaricus campestris

Agrocybe pediades

Bovista dermoxantha

Bovista plumbea

Calocybe carnea

Calvatia cyathiformis

Camarophyllus pratensis

Campanella subdendrophora

Chlorophyllum molybdites

Clarulinopsis corniculata

Clitocybe infundibuliformis

Clitocybe rivulosa

Collybia butryacea

Coprinus comatus

Coprinus kubickae

Cyathus stercoreus

Dentinum repandum

Hebeloma crustuliniforme

Hydnellum suaveolens

Hydnum compactum

Hygrocybe coccinea

Hygrocybe psittacina

Hygrocybe reae

Hygrophoropsis aurantiaca

Lactarius insulsus

Lactarius piperatus

Lactarius torminosus

Lepista nuda

Lepista personata

Lepista sordida

Leucoagaricus naucinus

Leucopaxillus giganteus

Lycoperdon marginatum

Lycoperdon perlatum

Lycoperdon pusillum

Lycoperdon spp.

Macrolepiota procera

Marasmius graminum

Marasmius oreades

Marasmius siccus

Marasmius rotula

Marasmius urens

Melanoleuca melaleuca

Melanolueca grarmopodia

Nolanea staurospora

Panaeolina foenisecii

Panaeolus campanulatus

Paxillus involutus

Scleroderma verrucosum

Suillus grevillei

Trechispora alnicola

Tricholoma columbetta

Tricholoma panoeolum

Tricholoma terreum

Vascellum curtisii

Vascellum pratense

Agaricus arvensis

Bovista dermoxantha

Clitocybe caespitosa

Clitocybe dealbata

Leucopaxillus giganteus

Lycoperdon perlatum

Lycoperdon pusillum

Lepista sordida

Marasmius oreades

Vascellum curtisii

Vascellum pratense

Lycoperdon perlatumLycoperdon pusillum

Marasmius oreades

Vascellum curtisiiVascellum pratense

Lycoperdon perlatum

Marasmius oreades)

Conditions Favoring Fairy Ring

FSandy soils, newly constructed greens

FExcessive thatch accumulation

FExtremes in soil moisture

FNutrient deficiency, especially nitrogen

Fairy Rings

l Symptoms/Signs: Fairy rings have been classified in several ways, depending on the symptoms and conditions induced. Couch described them as belonging to 2 basic types: edaphic or lectophilic.l Edaphic fairy rings are those induced by

fungi that are soil inhabitants. l Lectophilic fairy rings are those that are

inhabitants of the thatch and upper soil surfaces.

Fairy Ring TypesØType I rings - These have a zone of dead grass

just inside a zone of dark green grass. These are more prevalent on new greens than on established ones. The dead grass may form from mushroom mycelia accumulating below the soil surface and causing the soil to become hydrophobic (water ‘hating’). ØType II rings - These have only a band of dark

green turf, with or without mushrooms present in the band.Ø Type III rings - These do not exhibit a dead

zone or a dark green zone, but simply have a ring of mushrooms present.

Symptoms associated with Lycoperdon perlatum

*Tahama Y. (1980) On the ring of fairy rings on turf grasses. J. Jap.; Turfgrass Res. Assoc., 9(2), 133-6. (Japanese, En. R.A.P.P. 60, 12, 6517 (1981)

Fno green ringFgreen ringFgreen and

necrotic ringFnecrotic ring

Type I fairy ring symptoms

Type II fairy ring symptom

Superficial fairy ring

Fconfined almost entirely to the thatch layer, litter layer and top of the mineral soilFmost are saprophobic and cause little

damageFothers produce unsightly rings & “dry

spots/patch” specifically on sand golf greens

Clamp connection

Nectrotic Fairy Ring/ hydrophobic soil conditions Caused by Lycoperdon sp.

Greening EffectFDue to increased ammonium and

nitrate nitrogen in the soil*FLevels of nitrogen vary depending on:F species of fairy ring causing fungusFmore ammonium nitrogen in soil which had an

abundant myceliumFmost nitrates were found in the zone containing

the dying mycelium of the fungus- In Marasmius oreades – inner stimulated zone

shows more clearly than outer- probably because the nitrate nitrogen is more

available than the ammonium form.

*Moliard (1910), Bayliss-Elliott (1926), & Smith (1957)

Fairy ring symptoms are most evident in under-fertilized turfTredway

§ 0.1 lb N/1000 sq ft appl. 3 Jul 2001.§ 31 Jul 2001 (28 days later).

Masking Symptoms of a Type II Fairy Ring with Nitrogen on a Creeping Bentgrass Putting Green

+N +N-N -N

Fidanza

Pathogenic or Epiphytic?FMarasmius

oreades –hydrogen cyanide which is toxic to grass roots*Fdamaged/dead

roots then colonized by fungusFConfirmed to

produce hydrogen cyanide

Heino Lepp - Australian National BotanicGardens

*Bayliss, J.S. (1911) Observations on Marasmius oreades and Clitocybe gigantea as parasitic fungi causing fairy rings. J. Econ. Biol., 6, 111-32.

Hydrophobic soilassociated with Lycoperdonfairy ring in bentgrass green

Why is fairy ring so difficult to control?

Control of the fungus or the symptoms?

• It is very difficult to eradicate any fungus, especially soil-borne

• In some cases we can suppress the fungus with fungicides

• Sometimes some success with masking symptoms with fertilizer / soil penetrants

• 3 Basic Concepts:– Suppression

• cultural practices, fungicides, • soil surfactants/wetting agents

– Antagonism• mixing soil

– Eradication• fumigation or removal of soil (destructive)

• 2 Basic Strategies:– Preventive --Curative

Fairy Ring: Management

FCurative/Preventive Program:

FCultural practicesFspike or aerify area to be treatedFirrigation - wet soil profile (root zone or depth of 6 in) Fother practices (reduce thatch, proper fertility (N can mask

fairy ring), etc.)FApply soil surfactantFalleviate hydrophobic soil conditions Fsoil surfactants (Primer, Revolution, Surfside…)

FApply a fungicideFfungicides (optimum control w/ 4 to 5 gal water/1000 sq ft)

FDo not allow soil to dry-outFRepeat if necessary

Fairy Ring: Management

PatienceØThe fungus is in the root zone and/or

thatchØkilling the fungus causes desiccation of

the myceliumØthe mycelium must deteriorate/decay for

soil structure to improveØdeath or decay of the mycelium may result in

“release” of nitrogen (“green or ring flaring”)

This process will take time, surely more than 1 or 2 days and quite possibly up to 4 to 6 weeks!

Fungicides for Fairy RingFAzoxystrobin (Heritage)FFlutolanil (Prostar)FPyraclostrobin (Insignia)FFluoaxostrobin (DisArm)FPolyoxin D (Endorse)FBayleton FloFTriticonazole (Trinity)F Metconazole (Tourney)

Suppression of Lycoperdon with Prostar

Martin, 1993

Suppression of Lycoperdon with HeritageMartin, 1998

Steve Kammerer

Syngenta Professional Products

1 Aug, 2005

Fairy ring, % Incidence (Lycoperdon sp.). Myrtle Beach trial site #1. Martin, Clemson Univ.

1998

Test initiated 6/11/98, all materials applied on 28 day intervalirrig=irrigated after application with 0.25”

Fairy ring control w ith Heritage

0 10 20 30 40 50 60 70 80

Untreated

Heritage 0.4oz 28d

Heritage 0.4oz+Primer 28d

Heritage 0.4oz 28d irrig

Heritage 0.4oz+Primer 28d irrig

Prostar 6.0 oz

Prostar 6.0 oz+Primer

% fairy ring

2 wai3 wai6 wai

Irrigated 0.25 in

Not Irrigated

Fairy ring control w ith Heritage

0 10 20 30 40 50 60

Untreated

Heritage 0.4oz 28d

Heritage 0.4oz+Primer 28d

Heritage 0.4oz 28d irrig

Heritage 0.4oz+Primer 28d irrig

Prostar 6.0 oz

Prostar 6.0 oz+Primer

% fairy ring

14 dai19 dai39 dai

Fairy ring, % Incidence (Lycoperdon sp.). Myrtle Beach trial site #2. Martin, Clemson Univ. 1998

Test initiated 6/11/98, all materials applied on 28 day intervalirrig=irrigated after application with 0.25”

Irrigated 0.25 in

Not Irrigated

0

10

20

30

40

Heritage Heritage+ Rev

Heritage Heritage+ Rev

Prostar Prostar+ Rev

Prostar Prostar+ Rev

Check% P

lot

Are

a wi

th T

ype-

I Fa

iry

Ring

88 gpa 176 gpa 88 gpa 176 gpa

Products/1000 sq ft: Heritage 0.4 oz; Prostar 4.5 oz; Revolution 6 fl oz - Fidanza

Fairy Ring Control on Perennial Ryegrass Fairway – PA, 2006.

0

10

20

30

40

Endorse Endorse+ Rev

Endorse Endorse+ Rev

Insignia Insignia+ Rev

Insignia Insignia+ Rev

Check% P

lot

Are

a wi

th T

ype-

I Fa

iry

Ring

88 gpa 176 gpa 88 gpa 176 gpa

Products/1000 sq ft: Endorse 4 oz, Insignia 0.9 oz; Revolution 6 fl oz Fidanz

Fairy Ring Control on Perennial Ryegrass Fairway – PA, 2006.

Lycoperdon Fairy Ring Control 2005

0

5

10

15

20

25

No Fungicide/no penetrant

Revolution

Cascade

Insignia

Heritage TL

Prostar

Insignia+Revolution

Prostar + Revolution

Heritage+Revolution

Insignia+Cascade

Prostar +Cascade

Heritage+Cascade

Martin, Sept.2005

Heritage TL/CascadeRevolution

Heritage/no surfactant

Heritage/Revolution

Localized Dry Spot (Dry Patch)

APS Press

Severe LDS on 100% sand putting green

S.B.Martin, 2001

Wetting Agents!

DMIs for Fairy Ring Control: Background

FFairy ring activity observed during development of triadimefon (Bayleton)

FSuperintendents in Gulf Coast states have been using Bayleton for preventative fairy ring control

FBayleton received 2(ee) label for fairy ring control in 16 states in Feb. 2006

FHow do DMIs compare to other chemistries for preventative control?

FDo soil surfactants influence preventative control?

Prevention of fairy ring caused by Lycoperdonperlatum in creeping bentgrass (June 22, 2006): DMIs

Fair

y R

ing

Seve

rity

(0 to

9)

All treatments applied twice in March and AprilTreatments were watered in immediately with 0.25” of irrigationRevolution applied at 6 fl oz/M

Miller and Tredway, 2006

Untreated ControlMiller and Tredway, 2007

Bayleton (2 oz) applied 3/22 and 4/19

Miller and Tredway, 2007

Conclusions: Preventative Fairy Ring Control with Bayleton

F Spring applications of DMI fungicides can provide long-term control of fairy ring

F Other fungicides require tank-mixing with a soil surfactant and re-application during the season

F Some injury noted from Bayleton applications – ensure that bentgrass is growing and risk of hard frost is minimal before application

Preventative Control of Turf Root Diseases: Timing

Application Timing is Based on Soil Temperature

✓ Spring Dead Spot: apply in fall when soil temperatures are between 60°F and 80°F

✓ Summer Patch: inititate applications in spring when soil temperatures are above 65°F

✓ Take-all Patch: apply in fall and spring when soil temperatures are between 40°F and 60°F

✓ Fairy Ring: ??????

Rate and Timing of DMIs for Fairy Ring PreventionMiller and Tredway, 2007Fungicide / Rate

F Bayleton - 1 oz/1000 ft2

F Bayleton - 2 oz/1000 ft2

F Lynx - 1 fl oz/1000 ft2

F Lynx - 2 fl oz/1000 ft2

Soil temperature at initiation F(5-day average) - 50°F, 55°F. 60°F, 65°F, 70°F, 75°F

• USGA putting green established in 2004 with ‘A-1’ creeping bent

• All treatments watered-in immediately with 0.25” of irrigation• Cascade soil surfactant (8 fl oz/1000 ft2) applied on 3/20, 5/2,

and 7/25

Five-day Average Soil Temperature, 2007

Aver

age

5-da

y av

erag

e so

il te

mpe

ratu

re (º

F) May 29th:Fairy ring

start

A: Mar 14

B: Mar 25

C: Mar 28D: Mar 30

E: May 2

F: May 30

Lynx, D, 1 fl oz

Bayleton, D, 2 oz

Miller and Tredway, 2007

UntreatedBayleton, D, 1 oz

June 22, 2007

Miller and Tredway, 2007

Prevention of fairy ring caused by Lycoperdonperlatum in ‘A-1’ creeping bentgrass with DMIs,

2007

**Data is averaged across all application timings

a

b

cc c

a

bb

bb

a

ab

b b

b

Fair

y R

ing

Seve

rity

(0

to 9

)

Miller and Tredway, 2007

Prevention of fairy ring caused by Lycoperdonperlatum in ‘A-1’ creeping bentgrass, 2007

Fair

y R

ing

Seve

rity

(0

to 9

)

a

ab

bb

b

b

a

b

bcc c c

a

bbbbb

**Data is averaged across all fungicides and rates Miller and Tredway, 2007

Conclusions: Fairy Ring Prevention with DMIs

FOne spring application of Bayleton will not control fairy ring throughout the summer.

FExcept at the earliest application timing (50ºF), 1 oz of Bayleton also controlled fairy ring just as well as 2 oz.

F Preventive applications most effective when made in late March, when 5-day average soil temperatures were between 55ºF and 65ºF.

Current Recommendations for Fairy Ring Prevention

FInitiate applications when 5-day average soil temps reach 55ºF

FMake two applications of triadimefon (Bayleton) at 1 oz/1000 ft2

on a 21 to 30 day interval

FNo need to add a surfactant to Bayleton

FWater in the application immediately with 0.25” of irrigation

Miller and Tredway