One of the key factors affecting this disease is the recent change in our autumn season with respect to warmer and wetter periods of weather, extending deep into what was traditionally winter. Nowadays it is not unknown for the UK & Ireland to experience mild weather with temperatures typically in the earlymid teens right through to December.

High soil temperature and soil / leaf moisture levels favour the development and spread of Fusarium and, therefore, management practices should be geared to stop the establishment of a high fungal population early in the autumn by applying
preventative fungicide such as Headland Throttle. Failure to do so often results in successive, repeated applications of costly contact fungicide to try and
slow the population growth.

Throttle combines two highly active fungicides in one formulation – Prochloraz and Tebuconazole. Recent experience has shown the translaminar action of Prochloraz to be extremely efficient when soil temperatures are above 12°C, avoiding the
need to include an expensive supplementary fungicide in the mix. Longevity of control is provided by root uptake of the Tebuconazole portion of the formulation.

Preventative Fungicide Application

Headland Throttle @ 1.7L/ha in 500L of water

Tipping the balance away from disease development

Besides applying pesticides, other management practices can have a negative impact on the development of Fusarium and prevent it becoming necessary to spray. Maintaining a healthy grass plant by priming its natural defence mechanism
(SAR) using plant elicitors, strengthening cell wall structure and maximising photosynthesis by optimising potassium, calcium and iron availability all contribute positively. Headland has perfected an extremely effective tankmix combination in the fight against Fusarium.

Turf Hardening Tankmix

Turfite @ 20L/ha + Liquid Turf Hardener @ 20L/ha + Seamac Proturf @ 20L/ha in 400L of water

Dew & Disease Development

Plant leaf moisture and the production of guttation fluid on the leaf tip are two key factors that favour the development of a number of turf diseases including Fusarium Patch, Dollar Spot, Brown Patch and Anthracnose Foliar Blight. Guttation fluid is an exudate from the grass plant containing water, sugars and fertiliser salts and acts as a food source for pathogenic fungi. It follows therefore, that by preventing dew formation and guttation fluid sitting on the tip of the leaf (see above) that disease movement from plant to plant will be slowed. Application of Headland DewCure monthly from October to December prevents due formation for up to three weeks and is rainfast soon after application assuring longevity of response.

Dew Suppression

DewCure @ 6L/ha in 400L of water (Always maintain 1.5% dilution)