1. Plant Disease
  2. Host and Disease Descriptions

Lawn and Turf-Stripe Smut

  • Facebook logo
Latest revision: 
March 2024
PNW Plant Disease Image

Leaf symptoms first appear as narrow, yellow-green leaf streaks. They later become gray and eventually black when the epidermis ruptures, exposing masses of spores.

Alec Kowalewski.

PNW Plant Disease Image

Narrow leaf streaks become black when the epidermis ruptures, exposing masses of spores.

Alec Kowalewski.

PNW Plant Disease Image

Narrow leaf streaks become black when the epidermis ruptures, exposing masses of spores.

Alec Kowalewski.

See:

Grass for Seed - Stripe Smut

Hosts Many, but primarily bluegrass and bentgrass.

Cause A fungus, Ustilago striiformis, overwinters as mycelium in diseased plants and spores in infested soil. Spores can germinate and attack lateral buds on crowns and rhizomes. Once the smut penetrates, it usually spreads through the entire plant. Many grass species are susceptible.

Symptoms Plants are most noticeably infected during cool spring and fall weather when they appear pale green to yellow or brown. Leaf symptoms first appear as narrow, yellow-green leaf streaks. They later become gray and eventually black when the epidermis ruptures, exposing masses of spores.

Cultural control

  • Plant treated seed or use pathogen-free sod or resistant cultivars.
  • Adopt a fertilization and watering schedule that is on the low side of optimum.

Chemical control Tolerant strains of many fungal pathogens can become troublesome when these fungicides are used exclusively in a spray schedule. To prevent developing resistant fungi, alternate or tank-mix materials from different groups with different modes of action.

Products available in home packaging:

  • BioAdvanced Fungus Control for Lawns at 32 fl oz/over 5,000 sq ft. Group 3 fungicide. H
  • Bonide Infuse Systemic Disease Control Lawn and Landscape at 1.5 to 3 lb/1,000 sq ft. Activate with 0.1 to 0.25 inches water with-in 24 hours after application. Group 1 fungicide. H
  • Infuse Systemic Disease Control at 3 fl oz/1 gal water/250 sq ft of lawn. Group 3 fungicide. H
  • Spectracide Immunox Multi-Purpose Fungicide Spray Concentrate for Gardens at 7 fl oz/gal water over 500 sq ft. Group 3 fungicide. H

Products available for commercial use:

  • Cleary's 3336 EG at 4 to 6 oz/1,000 sq ft. Group 1 fungicide. 12-hr reentry.
  • Eagle 20 EW at 1.2 fl oz/1,000 sq ft. May produce a growth regulation effect on Kentucky bluegrass. Group 3 fungicide. 24-hr reentry.
  • Monsoon Turf at 0.6 fl oz/1,000 sq ft. Group 3 fungicide. 12-hr reentry.
  • OHP 6672 4.5F at 3.5 to 5.33 fl oz/1,000 sq ft. Group 1 fungicide. 12-hr reentry.
  • Propiconazole-based products. Apply once in fall or early spring. Group 3 fungicides.
    • Banner MAXX at 1 to 2 fl oz/1,000 sq ft. 12-hr reentry.
    • PropiMax EC at 0.37 to 0.73 fl oz/1,000 sq ft. 12-hr reentry.
  • Tebuzol 3.6F at 0.6 fl oz/1,000 sq ft. Group 3 fungicide. No reentry interval listed.
  • Torque at 0.6 to 1.1 fl oz/1,000 sq ft. Do not mix with growth regulators during hot weather as injury may develop. Group 3 fungicide. 12-hr reentry.

Combination Fungicides

  • Armada 50 WDG at 0.6 oz/1,000 sq ft. Do not use a silicone-based surfactant. Group 3 + 11 fungicide. 12-hr reentry.
  • Concert at 4.5 to 8.3 fl oz/1,000 sq ft. Do not use on fine fescue turf. Group 3 + M5 fungicide. 12-hr reentry.
  • Tartan at 1 fl oz/1,000 sq ft. Group 3 + 11 fungicide. 12-hr reentry.

Reference Alderman, S. C., Ocamb, C. M., Mellbye, M. E., and Sedegui, M. S. 2007. Occurrence of Ustilago striiformis in Dactylis glomerata seed production fields in Oregon. Plant Health Progress, 8:9. https://doi.org/10.1094/PHP-2007-1023-01-RS