The Plant Doctor: Take-All Disease of Turfgrasses

The pathogens that cause take-all root rot are classified as ectotrophic root-infecting (ERI) fungi. ERI fungi live on the outside of the underground parts of the turf plants. They form thick, dark, thread-like strands (hyphae) along the length of the roots, stolons, and rhizomes. Some of them also attack food crops, such as rice and wheat, as well as turf.

Identifying pathogenic ERI fungi and limiting the diseases they cause has been an evolving story since the first turf disease caused by them was identified and named “Bermudagrass decline” in 1984. In 1991, the pathogen causing Bermudagrass decline was identified as Gaeumannomyces graminis var. graminis (Ggg). By the late 1990s, the Ggg fungus was associated with declining St. Augustinegrass, centipedegrass and zoysiagrass home lawns throughout the southeast. The disease in residential lawns was called “take-all.” By 2000, the disease became distressingly common in St. Augustinegrass. Meanwhile, the suspicion grew that, at least in golf courses, multiple, similar-looking, pathogens were involved.

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Publication 2384 (POD-05-25)

By Alan Henn, PhD, Extension Professor, Agricultural Science and Plant Protection.