ProSelect:

Brown Patch Resistance

Brown patch (Rhizoctonia solani) is becoming a common turfgrass disease in tall fescue throughout the transition zone. Because of its good heat and drought tolerance and its improved turf characteristics, tall fescue is a popular turfgrass species in the transition zone.

Pure-Seed Testing, Inc. conducted multiple-year trials under heavy brown patch pressure at its Rolesville, NC site. Tall fescue varieties that receive the brown patch resistance icon have maintained a minimum average rating of 6.0 or greater over multiple trial years, under heavy brown patch disease pressure, at Rolesville, NC. The rating scale is from 1-9, where 9 = no disease and 1 = completely diseased.

Pure-Seed Testing, Inc. identifies existing tall fescue varieties with increased brown patch resistance for use in breeding projects. The warm-climate location of the North Carolina research facility allows researchers to identify tall fescue germplasm with improved brown patch resistance and excellent summer turf performance in warm, humid conditions, where brown patch can be a significant problem. Since 1999, Pure-Seed Testing, Inc. researchers have continued to rate brown patch damage in tall fescue species. Species at the top of the rating charts are used to breed new tall fescue varieties with improved brown patch resistance.

Take control of your brown patch disease management program and reduce your fungicide applications by using our brown patch-resistant program varieties!


The following Scotts varieties belong to our Brown Patch Resistance Programme:

• Festuca Arundinacea
  * Tar Heel II
  * Wolfpack
  * Silverado II