PURDUE EXTENSION

BP-104-W

Turfgrass Disease Profiles

Red Thread
Philip Harmon, Graduate Research Assistant
Richard Latin, Professor of Plant Pathology

R ed thread is a foliar disease that usually

occurs on taller mown turfgrasses during
spring and fall. The disease is often associ-
ated with malnourished, low quality, slow
growing turf, but the effects of the disease
are largely cosmetic. Red thread symp-
toms create an undesirable appearance,
but crowns and roots are not infected, so
plants are not killed and turf eventually will
recover.
Red thread takes its name from the
antler-like structures (sclerotia) produced
by a fungus (Laetisaria fuciformis) on the
Gray Snow Mold tips of infected leaf blades. The red or pink Figure 1
sclerotia (Figures 1and 2) are visible with-
Pink Snow Mold out magnification and are useful for identifying the
Leaf Spot/Melting Out disease in the field.
Red Thread From a distance, red thread symptoms appear as
circular patches of tan or pink turf about 4-8 inch-
Dollar Spot es in diameter (Figure 3). The pink color is caused
Brown Patch by the sclerotia and/or flocks of pink mycelium
on leaf blades (Figure 4). Other diseases, includ-
Gray Leaf Spot
ing dollar spot, pink snow mold, and especially
Anthracnose pink patch, have field patterns and symptoms that
Pythium Blight resemble red thread, and are active during similar
environmental conditions. However, after close
Leaf Rust inspection, red thread is easily distinguished from Figure 2
Powdery Mildew other diseases by the presence of the sclerotia.

Slime Mold Red thread most commonly affects Kentucky

bluegrass, perennial ryegrass, and tall fescue.
Fairy Ring Outbreaks usually occur in low maintenance turf
Take All Patch stands such as residential lawns, golf course
roughs, and some low budget athletic fields. Red
Summer Patch thread development is most common where turf-
Necrotic Ring Spot grass nutrition is poor and there are other factors
that promote slow growing turf.
Rhizoctonia Large Patch
Deficient nitrogen fertility levels can result in se-
rious outbreaks. Disease development occurs over
Figure 3
Turfgrass Disease Profiles Red Thread BP-104-W PURDUE EXTENSION

a relatively wide range of Because dollar spot and

cool conditions (40-70° F), pink snow mold threaten
typically in the spring and turfgrass during the same
fall, especially during long time, carefully select
evening dew periods. products that protect
The red thread pathogen against a broad range
survives winter as sclerotia of disease threats. Also,
residing in the thatch and repeated applications of
soil layers. Maintenance fungicides will be unnec-
practices — such as mow- essary if cultural control
ing — move sclerotia and options are implemented.
mycelium from infested and After a remedial treatment
infected leaf blades, and Figure 4 to suppress an unaccept-
spread the pathogen to unaffected areas. Existing able situation, the disease
patches expand in a radial pattern by mycelial growth. can be managed in the future with proper attention to
nitrogen fertility.
Disease Control Options Red Thread Control for Residential Lawns
Nonchemical Approaches Fungicides are not usually advised for red thread
Genetic resistance to red thread infection is limited. control on residential turf for various reasons. A red
Turfgrass varieties with different levels of red thread thread outbreak signals a more important problem
susceptibility are listed on the National Turfgrass concerning the lawn’s health and vigor. In almost
Evaluation Program (NTEP) Web site: http://www. all cases, practices that result in a well-nourished,
ntep.org. actively growing lawn also will suppress red thread.
The most important nonchemical (cultural) control With even a modicum of care, turf will recover to
option involves implementing an adequate nitrogen some extent because red thread does not affect turf-
fertility program. A good fertility program imple- grass crowns so will not kill the plants.
mented over two to three years will drastically reduce There are situations when fungicides for red thread
further red thread problems. Other cultural practices control on residential turf are warranted. In those
that promote healthy turf and vigorous growth also cases, effective fungicides should be applied by
help suppress red thread. Outbreaks may be reduced licensed applicators when the pathogen is active.
further by avoiding irrigation practices that extend
dew periods (such as watering in the late afternoon More Information
and early evening). A good place to start a long-term plan for red
thread control is Purdue Extension publication AY-22,
Chemical Control
Fertilizing Home Lawns, available at http://www.agry.
Fungicides may be used to control red thread,
purdue.edu/turf/pubs/ay-22.pdf.
especially on high maintenance turf. Effective fun-
gicides include strobilurins (Heritage 50WG®, Com- Other turf-related publications are available on the
pass 50WG®, Insignia 20WG®), benzamide (Prostar Purdue Turfgrass Management Program Web site:
70W®), and dicarboximides (Chipco 26GT®, Curalan http://www.agry.purdue.edu/turf/publicat.htm.
50EG®).
All photos by Philip Harmon and Richard Latin.

PURDUE AGRICULTURE 4/05

It is the policy of the Purdue University Cooperative Extension Service, David C. Petritz, Director, that all persons shall have equal opportunity and access to the programs and
facilities without regard to race, color, sex, religion, national origin, age, marital status, parental status, sexual orientation, or disability. Purdue University is an Affirmative
Action institution. This material may be available in alternative formats.
1-888-EXT-INFO
http://www.ces.purdue.edu/new