On Thurs., April 3, Florida turf professionals in the golf course and athletic turf community gathered at the South Florida Research & Education Center in Fort Lauderdale, Fla., to hear about the latest research from the University of Florida.
The day began with a field tour including ten stops with topics ranging from fungicide programs for the management of ultradwarf bermudagrasses to burrowing owls in turf areas to plant root management and new herbicides for broadleaf weeds. Vendors also exhibited and demonstrated new equipment. After a barbecue lunch, turf pros attended workshops presented by Dr. Mike Fidanza (Penn State) and John Foy (Florida USGA) for GCSAA CEU credits.
BASF Market Development Specialist Kathie Kalmowitz worked with the University of Florida’s Dr. John Cisar to coordinate several turf plots testing BASF Trinity™, Insignia®, Curalan®, and Iprodione Pro fungicides for Cisar’s research on bermudagrass integrated pest management. Two trials were discussed—a summer/fall trial and a winter trial for the control of leaf spot using a rotation of BASF products.
Cisar’s June - Sept. 2007 summer trial on Champion bermudagrass tested BASF products in three treatment programs with the following providing excellent results equal to registered standards. Fungicide residual from September applications resulted in less infection between October and December as observed by Dr. Cisar.
The following products were applied every 21 days:
- Spray 1: Trinity- 1oz/M
- Spray 2: Insignia + Fore- 0.5oz/M + 8oz/M
- Spray 3: Iprodione Pro- 4oz/M
- Spray 4: Trinity- 1oz/M
- Spray 5: Insignia- 0.9oz/M
- Spray 6: Insignia + Trinity- 0.5oz/M + 1oz/M
Cisar’s winter 2007 leaf spot trial on Tifeagle bermudagrass included the following combinations:
- Insignia at .9oz/M
- Trinity at .9oz/M, 1oz/M and .75oz/M
- Insignia + Curalan at .5oz/M + 1oz/M
- Trinity + Insignia at .75oz/M + .5oz/M
- Trinity + Curalan at .75 oz/M + 1oz/M
- Insignia + Fore at .5oz/M + .8oz/M
- Trinity + Fore at .75oz/M + 8 oz/M
The best looking leaf spot treatments were those applications that included Insignia or Insignia combinations.
Cisar reported excellent control from the BASF fungicides, noting, “the old ponies – Insignia and Curalan— still run and the new horses [Trinity] are doing well and are showing good residual control.” Cisar emphasized that with all products tested, late summer fungicide programs greatly influence keeping greens clean during the winter due to residual control.
BASF is continuing research with Trinity to expand the label to include use on the ultradwarf bermudagrasses such as Tifeagle and Champion that were assessed at the field day. Additional trials are being coordinated by Dr. Phil Harmon, Turfgrass Pathologist at Gainesville and Dr. John Cisar, Turfgrass Agronomist in Ft. Lauderdale.
BASF T&O sales consultant Jarid Wendling and BASF Professional Vegetation Management senior sales specialist Chris Keys staffed the BASF exhibitor booth:
Field day attendees participated in the vendor exposition and equipment demonstrations:
Dr. John Cisar presented his research on bermudagrass IPM, including trials of BASF fungicides:
Dr. Kathie Kalmowitz with BASF:
Over 200 turf professionals attended the event and many listened to CEU-credit workshops after lunch:
