Scientific name
Rhizoctonia solani
Common Names
Brown Patch, Rhizoctonia Brown Patch
Brown Patch is one of the most widespread fungal diseases of turfgrass in Australia, affecting both cool-season and warm-season species. It develops during warm, humid weather when overnight temperatures remain high and leaf wetness persists. The disease is commonly associated with excessive nitrogen, poor air circulation and prolonged irrigation. Symptoms appear as circular brown patches ranging from a few centimetres to over a metre in diameter, often with a distinctive dark "smoke ring" around the edge during humid mornings.
Similar Diseases
- Dollar Spot (Clarireedia spp.)
- Pythium Blight (Pythium spp.)
- Large Patch (Rhizoctonia solani)
- Leaf Spot (Bipolaris, Drechslera and Exserohilum spp.)
SCENARIOS AND SOLUTIONS
At the first signs of circular brown patches: Apply ProForce Tombstone Duo Fungicide to suppress active infections and protect surrounding healthy turf.
During warm, humid weather favouring disease: Apply Azo-Force 250SC Fungicide preventatively before extended periods of leaf wetness.
On golf greens and sports fields with recurring Brown Patch: Rotate ProForce Voltar 500SC Fungicide with ProForce Tombstone Duo Fungicide to support resistance management.
Where multiple turf diseases are present or expected: Include ProForce Clean Sweep Trio Fungicide in a preventative fungicide program for broad-spectrum disease control.
References
https://www.syngentaturf.com.au/disease-foliage/brown-patch
https://greenwayturfsolutions.com/problem-solver/brown-patch/
https://www.turffiles.ncsu.edu/diseases-in-turf/brown-patch-in-turf/
