Anthracnose

Scientific name

Colletotrichum cereale

Common Names

Anthracnose, Anthracnose Basal Rot, Anthracnose Foliar Blight

Anthracnose is a serious fungal disease affecting both cool-season and warm-season turfgrasses throughout Australia. It commonly infects annual bluegrass (Poa annua) and creeping bentgrass on golf greens but can affect other turf species under stress. The disease develops during warm, humid weather or when turf is weakened by low nitrogen, soil compaction, drought stress, close mowing or excessive thatch. Symptoms include yellowing turf, irregular bronze patches, black fruiting bodies on infected leaves and stems, and thinning turf due to crown and basal rot.

Similar Diseases

Dollar Spot (Clarireedia spp.)
Brown Patch (Rhizoctonia solani)
Leaf Spot (Bipolaris, Drechslera and Exserohilum spp.)
Fusarium Patch (Microdochium nivale)

SCENARIOS AND SOLUTIONS

At the first signs of yellowing or thinning turf: Apply ProForce Tombstone Duo Fungicide to suppress Anthracnose and protect healthy turf.

During warm, humid conditions favouring disease: Apply Azo-Force 250SC Fungicide preventatively before disease pressure increases.

On golf greens with recurring Anthracnose: Rotate ProForce Voltar 500SC Fungicide with ProForce Tombstone Duo Fungicide to support resistance management and long-term control.

Where multiple foliar diseases are expected: Include ProForce Clean Sweep Trio Fungicide in a preventative fungicide program for broad-spectrum disease protection.