PURDUE EXTENSION

BP-105-W

Turfgrass Disease Profiles

Dollar Spot
Richard Latin, Professor of Plant Pathology

Dollar spot is caused by a fungal pathogen

(Sclerotinia homoeocarpa) that blights leaf
tissues but does not affect turfgrass roots or
crowns. The disease is a common concern
on golf course turf, especially creeping
bentgrass and annual bluegrass greens, tees,
and fairways, where it can result in poor turf
quality and appearance.
Dollar spot is rare on sports turf and
professional landscapes. Outbreaks may occur
in residential lawn turf and can reduce the
lawn’s aesthetic quality and contribute to an
overall decline in turf vigor. However, severe Figure 1
dollar spot in residential lawn turf usually is a
sign of neglect and poor turf maintenance.
Gray Snow Mold
Dollar spot is one of the most readily
Pink Snow Mold identifiable diseases on golf course turf.
Leaf Spot/Melting Out Characteristic symptoms on creeping
bentgrass include small (up to 1 inch in
Red Thread diameter), round, tan-colored spots (Figure
Dollar Spot 1). The spots often occur in clusters and
can cause considerable damage to playing
Brown Patch
surfaces if not appropriately managed (Figure
Gray Leaf Spot 2). Figure 3 shows a research site where
Anthracnose various treatments were applied to control
dollar spot (green rectangles). The brown turf
Pythium Blight Figure 2
surrounding the treated areas shows severe
Leaf Rust dollar spot damage.

Powdery Mildew In the early morning hours after a long dew

period, the dollar spot pathogen will produce
Slime Mold an abundance of mycelia on affected plant
Fairy Ring parts (Figures 4, 5). Characteristic symptoms
on individual plants include distinct lesions
Take All Patch on leaf blades (Figure 6) with straw-colored
Summer Patch centers and red-brown margins. Leaf spot
symptoms are more readily observed on taller
Necrotic Ring Spot
mown turf species such as Kentucky bluegrass
Rhizoctonia Large Patch and perennial ryegrass.
The dollar spot pathogen survives in the
turf environment as mycelium in infested turf Figure 3
debris. The pathogen becomes active with
Turfgrass Disease Profiles Dollar Spot BP-105-W

rising temperatures in the spring. serious disease outbreaks. Nighttime

Mycelial growth and infection occur and early morning irrigation are
during extended dew periods (longer preferred. Irrigation during the late
than 8 hours) over a broad range afternoon and early evening hours
of temperatures (55˚-80˚F). The should be avoided.
severity of dollar spot development
is increased significantly in nitrogen-
Biological Control
deficient turf stands. Turf suffering There are a number of biological
from poor nutrition also is slow to control applications that reportedly
recover from disease damage. contribute to reducing dollar spot
severity. Some professional turf
The pathogen produces no spores; Figure 4
managers have had success with
spread occurs through radial growth
various biological control applications
from individual infection centers and
while others have experienced
by the movement of infected and
disappointment.
infested leaf blades, usually through
turf maintenance operations such as The mixed results should not be
mowing and core aeration. unexpected because the microbiology
of the turfgrass environment is
Disease Control Options extremely complex. It is likely that
Resistance to Disease all factors contributing to turfgrass
All modern creeping bentgrass growth and development influence
cultivars are susceptible to dollar spot, the efficacy of biological control
but there are significant differences in Figure 5 applications. Consequently, the extent
their susceptibility. Based on cultivar to which biological applications
evaluations published by the National contribute to disease control may
Turfgrass Evaluation Program and be determined only after on-site
by reports in Biological and Cultural experimentation by individual turf
Tests for Control of Plant Diseases, managers.
cultivars may be categorized into Fungicide Application
three susceptibility groups. In the
Various fungicides registered for
most susceptible group are cultivars
use on turfgrass perform well against
such as Crenshaw® and Backspin®.
dollar spot on well-managed turf.
Among the least susceptible are
Repeated applications are almost
L93®, Penncross®, Pennlinks®, Penn Figure 6 always required on stands of creeping
A1®, and Providence®. The middle
bentgrass and annual bluegrass. The
susceptibility category includes Penn G2®, Penn G6®, and
contact fungicides usually require applications at 7-14 day
Penn A4®. More complete listings of creeping bentgrass
intervals. Local penetrant (local systemic) fungicides and
cultivars are available on the NTEP Web site: [Link].
acropetal penetrant (systemic) fungicides may be effective
Cultural Control Options for 14-21 and 14-28 days, respectively, depending on the
Because dollar spot is more severe on nitrogen-deficient application rate, disease pressure, and overall vigor of the
turf, an adequate nitrogen fertility program will significantly turf. Table 1 provides a list of common fungicides for dollar
contribute to disease control. Adequate N nutrition will spot control.
produce plants that are less prone to disease. The result Regardless of the dollar spot control product used,
will be a delay in disease outbreaks in the spring, reduced fungicide performance will improve when combined with
severity of outbreaks, improved fungicide performance, and turf management practices that reduce disease pressure.
more rapid turf recovery. Also, repeated use of a single acropetal penetrant fungicide
Proper irrigation scheduling also may contribute to will select naturally occurring strains resistant to the
dollar spot control. Since the duration of the dew period fungicide. Note: common turf fungicides such as Heritage®,
is proportional to the extent of infection, any irrigation Compass®, ProStar®, Subdue®, and Banol® are not effective
practice that prolongs the dew period will contribute to against dollar spot.
Turfgrass Disease Profiles Dollar Spot BP-105-W

Dollar Spot Control for Residential Lawns

Extensive dollar spot development in residential lawns
signals problems in general turf maintenance (Figure 7).
Nitrogen deficiency is the most important maintenance
factor influencing the development of dollar spot and
other diseases. Lawns with serious dollar spot outbreaks
are nitrogen deficient. Following a simple year-round
program for nitrogen fertility can help prevent the disease.
If unexpected outbreaks occur in summer, the disease will
be suppressed by applying approximately 0.5 lb. actual
N per 1,000 square feet per month. Regular mowing to
a height of 2-3 inches will hasten turf recovery. Specific
recommendations for residential lawn fertilizing are
provided in Purdue Extension publication AY-22, Fertilizing
Established Lawns, available from the Purdue Turfgrass
Figure 7 Management Program Web site: [Link]/turf/
[Link].
Fungicide application is rarely necessary for dollar spot
control in residential lawns. If a homeowner thinks that
control with fungicides is absolutely essential, then a
professional custom applicator service should be hired for
the application.

Table 1. Selected fungicides registered for use on creeping bentgrass against dollar spot.

Fungicide/Example Trade Name Application Application Fungicide type

rate/M interval (days)
propiconazole/Banner Maxx 1.3MEC® 0.5-1 fl. oz. 14-28 acropetal penetrant (systemic)

triadimefon/Bayleton 50W® 0.5-1 oz. 14-28 acropetal penetrant (systemic)

myclobutanil/Eagle 40WSP® 0.5-1.2 oz. 14-28 acropetal penetrant (systemic)

thiophanate-methyl/Cleary’s 3336F® 2-4 fl. oz. 14-21 acropetal penetrant (systemic)

boscalid/Emerald 70W® 0.13-0.18 oz. 14-28 acropetal penetrant (systemic)

iprodione/Chipco 26GT® 3-4 fl. oz. 14-21 local penetrant (local systemic)

vinclozolin/Curalan 50EG® 1 oz. 14-28 local penetrant (local systemic)

chlorothalonil/Daconil Ultrex 82.5 WDG® 1.8-3.3 oz. 7-14 contact

PURDUE AGRICULTURE Rev. 3/05

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