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ARS Home » Northeast Area » Washington, D.C. » National Arboretum » Floral and Nursery Plants Research » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #422289
Research Project: Improving Sustainability of Turfgrass Systems through Germplasm Development

Location: Floral and Nursery Plants Research

Title: Evaluation of seasonal dollar spot disease patterns in bentgrasscultivars using digital image processing techniques

Author
item KIM, YONGHYUN - Orise Fellow
item Barnaby, Jinyoung
item Warnke, Scott
item MORRIS, KEVIN - National Turfgrass Evaluation Program

Submitted to: International Turfgrass Society Research Journal
Publication Type: Proceedings
Publication Acceptance Date: 5/9/2025
Publication Date: 5/12/2025
Citation: Kim, Y., Barnaby, J.Y., Warnke, S.E., Morris, K.N. 2025. Evaluation of seasonal dollar spot disease patterns in bentgrasscultivars using digital image processing techniques. International Turfgrass Society Research Journal. https://doi.org/10.1002/its2.70049.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1002/its2.70049

Interpretive Summary:

Technical Abstract: Dollar spot disease, caused by the fungal pathogen Clarireedia jacksonii, is one of the most destructive and economically significant diseases affecting bentgrass species. Occurring throughout the growing season, its management often involves bi-weekly fungicide applications from May to October, with 54% of golf course managers relying on this intensive strategy. To reduce the overuse of fungicides, improving the selection of disease-resistant germplasm is crucial. In this study, we employed digital image processing techniques to quantify the Area Under the Disease Progress Curve (AUDPC) for seasonal dollar spot outbreaks across 19 bentgrass cultivars. Based on their disease progression patterns, the cultivars were grouped into five distinct clusters, reflecting varying levels of susceptibility and tolerance. This method offers a rapid and accurate approach to assessing genetic performance, providing valuable insights for breeding programs and sustainable disease management strategies.