Pennsylvania Turfgrass - Summer 2021

Summer 2021 • Vol. 10/No. 3

Minimize Plant Injury and Reduce Anthracnose Basal Rot in your Putting Green Better Planning and Execution Through Weather App Adoption

Saving America’s Water In just 4 years, over 500 million square feet of TifTuf has been installed on residential and commercial landscapes, golf courses, and collegiate and professional sports fields across our country. As a result, over 9.5 billion gallons of our precious water resources have already been saved. TifTuf is absolutely changing the face of the American landscape!

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Summer 2021 • Pennsylvania Turfgrass

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Pennsylvania Turfgrass Council P.O. Box 99 Boalsburg, PA 16827-0550 Phone: (814) 237-0767 Fax: (814) 414-3303 info@paturf.org www.paturf.org

Vol. 10 / No. 3 • Summer 2021

Publisher: Leading Edge Communications, LLC 206 Bridge Street, Suite 200 Franklin, TN 37064 Phone: (615) 790-3718 Fax: (615) 794-4524 info@leadingedgecommunications.com Pennsylvania Turfgrass Editor Max Schlossberg, Ph.D. Penn State University • mjs38@psu.edu

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Pennsylvania Turfgrass Associate Editor Heather Welch Penn State University • hgw1@psu.edu President Tom Fisher Wildwood Golf Club – Allison Park, PA (412) 518-8384 Vice President Rick Catalogna Harrell’s Inc Territory Manager (412) 897-0480 Secretary-Treasurer Shawn Kister Longwood Gardens, Inc. – Kennett Square, PA (484) 883-9275 Past President Pete Ramsey Range End Golf Club – Dillsburg, PA (717) 577-5401

12 Features

Departments

8 Cover Story

6 President’s Update

Minimize Plant Injury and Reduce Anthracnose Basal Rot in your Putting Green

12 Feature Article

Better Planning and Execution Through Weather App Adoption

18 Between the Lines

STMA, KAFMO, and FFA Team Up to Nurture PA Turfgrass Careers

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Pennsylvania Turfgrass • Summer 2021

6 Penn State Turf Team 7 Advertiser Index 20 Penn State News Find this issue, Podcasts, Events and More: THETURFZONE.COM

Director of Operations Tom Bettle Penn State University Assistant Director of Operations Nicole Kline Pennsylvania Turfgrass Association Directors Steve Craig Centre Hills Country Club Tanner Delvalle Penn State Extension Elliott Dowling USGA Andy Moran University of Pittsburgh Tim Wilk Scotch Valley Country Club Matt Wolf Penn State University

For test results check www.ntep.org

www.burlinghamseeds.com

President’s Update

ONE SEASON DOWN,

SUMMER TO GO

W

hile not entirely unique to our corner of the earth, Turf Managers in the Commonwealth often quip that we don’t simply have four seasons. 2021 roared in with seasonal cold and extended snow despite Phil’s proclamation. Six more weeks of winter whittled down to three as late February evolved into an early jump on meteorological spring for many of us. For those not basking in the late winter sun, several dips in temperature coupled with wintry mixes reminded us to not get ahead of ourselves and be mindful of the calendar. Once the snow melted, we all hopefully experienced a wonderful transition into a balmy and welcoming spring as our facilities were thrust into another busy season. Much like every year, flexibility, experience, and innovation in our agronomic practices all proved to be the keystone of another successful season.

While it may have been delivered through a computer screen and not in the flesh, the Board of the Pennsylvania Turfgrass Council sincerely hopes our members saw value in the virtual conference held this past January. Spirited talks by familiar faces provided the feeling of normalcy and community that we all missed with the cancellation of our annual low-season educational summits. While we haven’t had the opportunity to meet in person throughout the past year, the seasonal checkpoints we all look forward to will return in the near future. The Pennsylvania Turfgrass Council realizes that there is no better time than now to take a close look at the effectiveness and value of our operations and practices. We can assure you that the Council is actively working to ensure member participation and value is maximized in a post-Covid world with engaging educational seminars that provide us all with camaraderie and cutting edge Turf Industry research.

Looking ahead, we know that increased usage of our facilities will contribute an unpredictable variable to our maintenance practices. Driving range tees will be perforated, cart traffic will be bountiful, and parks will be full. Summer will be dry for some, wet for others, and a head scratcher at times for all. Hopefully, as a member of the Pennsylvania Turfgrass Council, your knowledge base and strong network of peers will be an invaluable tool to guide you through another busy season.

Tom Fisher

2021 PTC President

The Pennsylvania Turfgrass Council (PTC) serves its members in the industry through education, promotion and representation. The statements and opinions expressed herein are those of the individual authors and do not necessarily represent the views of the association, its staff, or its board of directors, Pennsylvania Turfgrass, or its editors. Likewise, the appearance of advertisers, or PTC members, does not constitute an endorsement of the products or services featured in this, past or subsequent issues of this publication. Copyright © 2021 by the Pennsylvania Turfgrass Council.

Pennsylvania Turfgrass is published quarterly. Subscriptions are complimentary to PTC members. Presorted standard postage is paid at Jefferson City, MO. Printed in the U.S.A. Reprints and Submissions: Pennsylvania Turfgrass allows reprinting of material published here. Permission requests should be directed to the PTC. We are not responsible for unsolicited freelance manuscripts and photographs. Contact the managing editor for contribution information. Advertising: For display and classified advertising rates and insertions, please contact Leading Edge Communications, LLC, 206 Bridge Street, Suite 200, Franklin, TN 37064, (615) 790-3718, Fax (615) 794-4524.

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Pennsylvania Turfgrass • Summer 2021

Penn State Turf Team

Jeffrey A. Borger Senior Instructor in Turfgrass Weed Management 814-865-3005 • jborger@psu.edu

Michael A. Fidanza, Ph.D. Professor of Plant & Soil Science 610-396-6330 • maf100@psu.edu

David R. Huff, Ph.D. Professor of Turfgrass Genetics 814-863-9805 • drh15@psu.edu

Brad Jakubowski Instructor of Plant Science 814-865-7118 • brj8@psu.edu

John E. Kaminski, Ph.D. Professor of Turfgrass Science 814-865-3007 • jek156@psu.edu

Peter J. Landschoot, Ph.D. Professor of Turfgrass Science 814-863-1017 • pjl1@psu.edu

Ben McGraw, Ph.D. Associate Professor of

Turfgrass Entomology 814-865-1138 • bam53@psu.edu

Andrew S. McNitt, Ph.D. Professor of Soil Science 814-863-1368 • asm4@psu.edu

Max Schlossberg, Ph.D. Associate Professor of Turfgrass Nutrition / Soil Fertility 814-863-1015 • mjs38@psu.edu

Al J. Turgeon, Ph.D. Professor Emeritus of Turfgrass Management aturgeon@psu.edu

Wakar Uddin, Ph.D. Professor of Plant Pathology 814-863-4498 • wxu2@psu.edu

Advertiser Index

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Burlingham Seeds............................. 5 www.burlinghamseeds.com

Coombs Sod Farms......................... 11 www.coombsfarms.com

Covermaster, Inc............................... 3 www.covermaster.com

East Coast Sod & Seed................... 19 www.eastcoastsod.com

High Performance Plant Nutrients Fertilizers ▪ Specialty Products Soil Amendments ▪ Custom Blends

Fisher & Son Company, Inc......... Inside Back Cover www.fisherandson.com

FM Brown’s & Sons......................... 11 www.fmbrown.com

George E. Ley Co............................ 11 www.gelcogolf.com

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Greene County Fertilizer Co.............. 7 www.greenecountyfert.com

Kesmac........................................... 15 www.brouwerkesmac.com

Leading Edge Communications......... 3 www.LeadingEdgeCommunications.com

Progressive Turf Equipment Inc.. . .... 21 www.progressiveturfequip.com

Quest Products Corp.. . .................... 24 www.questproducts.us

Seedway.. .......................................... 7 www.seedway.com

Shreiner Tree Care . . ......................... 19 www.shreinertreecare.com

Smith Seed Services....................... 19 www.smithseed.com

The Turfgrass Group.. Inside Front Cover www.theturfgrassgroup.com

Turf Science.................................... 17 turfscience.net

Summer 2021 • Pennsylvania Turfgrass

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Cover Story

Minimize Plant Injury and Reduce Anthracnose Basal Rot in your Putting Green

By Wakar Uddin, Ph.D.

B

asal rot anthracnose is a destructive disease of annual bluegrass (Poa annua L.) and creeping bentgrass (Agrostis stolonifera L.) in North America and western Europe.

Anthracnose in turfgrass had been previously classified as senectopathic problem associated with advanced senescence of plant tissue where infection is usually initiated (1). However, incidence and severity of the disease in golf course putting greens have dramatically increased in recent years (2, 3). The reason for the increased problem in putting greens is unclear. It is likely that certain cultural practices and changes in pathogen population may have, at least in part, contributed to the problem.

Two phases of the disease are commonly recognized – the foliar blight and the basal rot (5). The foliar blight phase develops

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Pennsylvania Turfgrass • Summer 2021

during warm periods in the summer, and the basal rot phase may occur at any time of the year depending on the geographic area.

In close-cut annual bluegrass, small orange and yellow spots may appear in the winter or spring, and infection of crown results in yellowing followed by death of the plants. Infected plants later develop acervuli and melanized setae and profuse production of these structures may be found on crown and stem tissues or between the sheaths of the dying and deteriorating (Fig. 1).

Nutritional deficiencies and environmental stresses are also important factors influencing anthracnose basal rot development.

Turfgrass cultural practices that cause mechanical injury to plant tissue, particularly crown, stolon, and stem tissue, provide infection courts for the anthracnose pathogen for efficient

Fig. 1. Severe infection of crown, roots, and stem tissue of annual bluegrass by Colletotrichum cereale.

infection. Vertical mowing of putting greens is commonly used to reduce grain, puffiness, excessive thatch, and non-uniform shoot density of putting green turf for better turf quality and faster putting speeds (6). Vertical mowing could cause injury to crowns, roots, and stolons, depending on the intensity of the operation.

Maintenance of a proper mowing height is also important in putting green management. Golf course superintendents usually prefer maintaining a relatively low mowing height to achieve ideal green speed (4). However, low mowing heights may also contribute to significant plant injury that is likely to provide a greater number of infection courts for the pathogen. The injury could even be much more severe in scalped areas of the green where the mowing height is even lower. Therefore, vertical mowing and low mowing height are potentially serious factors governing basal rot anthracnose development. This study was undertaken to determine the effects of vertical mowing and mowing height on the severity of

anthracnose basal rot in mixed turf of creeping bentgrass and annual bluegrass.

Mowing practices – the horizontal and vertical cuts Two important cultural practices, horizontal and vertical mowing, cause significant injury to plant tissue which can serve as the infection court for the anthracnose basal rot pathogen. The effects of the two mowing factors were evaluated on annual bluegrass, a putting green maintained under low-nitrogen fertility (0.25 lb. single application in early May) with irrigation regime to maintain low soil moisture. The vertical mowing done at three different depths: Deep (0.20 inch), shallow (0.13 inch), and none (control).

The horizontal mowing was applied at three heights of cut: High (0.17 inch), medium (0.12 inch), and low (0.08 inch).

Summer 2021 • Pennsylvania Turfgrass

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Cover Story • continued

Following the mowing, the turf in the putting green was inoculated with Colletotrichum cereale which was originally isolated from the symptomatic annual bluegrass turf at the Valentine Turfgrass Research Center at the Pennsylvania State University. A spore suspension of C. cereale (104 conidia per ml aqueous suspension) was applied to the turf with a hand-held sprayer. Inoculation was conducted in the late afternoon (prior to sunset), and the turf was covered with a 6-mil plastic sheet over the three subsequent nights (cover removed each morning). Severity of anthracnose basal rot (Index 0-10; 0=turf asymptomatic; 10=>90% turf area symptomatic) was assessed twice. Symptomatic plants were randomly collected from the plots and evaluated for presence of acervuli, conidia, and setae on the affected tissues. Disease severity data were subject to analysis of variance to test the effects the mowing practices on anthracnose basal rot.

How the horizontal and vertical cuts affect anthracnose development An assessment of basal rot anthracnose three weeks after inoculation indicates that mowing height and vertical mowing influenced the development of basal rot anthracnose in annual bluegrass.

In the first disease assessment, the effect of mowing height and vertical mowing on disease severity were significant (P≤0.05).

Under the high-cut (0.17 inch) mowing treatment, anthracnose was least severe in plots that were not vertical mowed, and it was significantly lower than that in plots which were vertical mowed shallow (0.13 inch) or deep (0.20 inch) (Fig.1). A relative reduction of 74% in disease severity was achieved in plots that were not vertical mowed compared to those that were cultivated deeply (0.20 inch).

The effects of vertical mowing on disease severity were observed when the mowing height was reduced to the medium (0.12 inch) or lowest (0.08 inch) height of cut. Effects of vertical mowing and mowing height on disease severity showed a similar pattern in the second disease assessment that was conducted two weeks later.

Overall, basal rot anthracnose severity slightly increased over two weeks; in the second assessment, there were significant differences in disease severity among the three vertical mowing depths under all three mowing heights. Similarly, under no vertical mowing, disease severity in plots that were mowed at the highest height of cut (0.17 inch) was significantly lower than that in plots that were maintained at the medium height of cut (0.12 inch), which in turn was significantly lower than that of the plots maintained at the lowest height of cut (0.08 inch) (Fig. 2). Effects of mowing height and vertical mowing on development of anthracnose basal rot disease in the second disease assessment followed a similar pattern.

The experimental turf area in this study originally contained local population of moderately virulent C. cereale isolates. Inoculation of turf with C. cereale originally isolated from this site provided fairly uniform distribution of basal rot anthracnose in the annual bluegrass population. Inoculation of plants soon after employing the treatments appeared to have accelerated the infection process as indicated by relatively high basal rot anthracnose disease severity in the experimental turf area compared to adjacent areas.

10 Pennsylvania Turfgrass • Summer 2021

It has been established in the literature that C. cereale is a stresspathogen that effectively infects the host plants through mechanical injury (3, 5). Although it has become apparent in recent years that the fungus can also effectively infect plants that are growing under non-stressed conditions, the injury factor appears to remain critical during the infection process. This was evidenced by increased disease severity in plots that were vertical mowed with reduced mowing height. Depth of vertical mowing appeared to play important role in basal rot anthracnose development.

This study indicates that deep vertical mowing may have caused relatively greater injury to crown, roots, and stolon tissue; thus, more severe disease. Extreme reduction of mowing height removes considerable amount of photosynthates, provides greater exposure of crown tissue to the pathogen, and contributes to summer stress, all of which can be conducive to infection and disease development.

Effects of close mowing in this study clearly demonstrated such effects on basal rot anthracnose severity in annual bluegrass.

Fig. 2. Effects of vertical mowing on basal rot anthracnose severity in annual bluegrass maintained under 0.17-inch (A), 0.12-inch (B), and 0.08-inch (C) mowing heights of cut.

Conclusion This study revealed the effects of mowing height and vertical mowing depth in basal rot anthracnose development in annual bluegrass putting green. Such cultural practices evidently caused significant mechanical injury; thus increased disease severity. Devising a turfgrass management strategy focusing on proper timing of cultural practices that minimize plant injury will be strongly desirable for turf managers. The most practical approach to addressing these two issues may be careful application of these practices.

Vertical mowing may be performed while disease is least active at reduced depths; and the correct mowing height may be formulated with a compromise between disease management and appropriate green speed.

Employing cultural practices that minimizes mechanical injury and reduces disease severity will be instrumental in development of an integrated basal rot anthracnose management strategy.

Literature cited 1. Couch, H. B. 1995. Diseases of Turfgrasses.

3rd ed. Krieger Publishing Company, Malabar, Fla. 2. Danneberger, K. 2007. Basal anthracnose: Springtime ritual. Golfdom Apr. 2007.

3. L andschoot, P., and Hoyland, B. 1995.

Shedding some light on anthracnose basal rot. Golf Course Manage. 11:52-55.

4. Nikolai, T. A. 2005. The Superintendent’s Guide to Controlling Putting Green Speed. John Wiley & Sons, Inc., Hoboken, NJ.

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Irrigation Systems Golf Course Alterations • Field Drainage

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Glenmoore, PA 19343 Fax: 610-942-9556

Pump Stations Vibratory Plowing • Pond Cleanout

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5. Smiley, R.W., Dernoeden, P.H. and Clarke, B.B. 2005. Compendium of Turfgrass Diseases. 3rd ed. The American Pathological Society, St. Paul, MN. 6. Vargas, J.M., and Turgeon, A.J. 2004. Poa annua: Physiology, Culture, and Control of Annual Bluegrass. John Wiley & Sons, Inc, Hoboken, NJ.

Dr. Wakar Uddin is Professor in the Department of Plant Pathology, The Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA

Summer 2021 • Pennsylvania Turfgrass 11

Feature Article

BETTER

PLANNING

AND EXECUTION

THROUGH WEATHER

APP

ADOPTION

12 Pennsylvania Turfgrass • Summer 2021

By Brad Jakubowski, Instructor in Agronomy, Center for Turfgrass Science

BASIC INFORMATION

eeping an eye on the weather is something professional turfgrass managers have ingrained into our systems. Can I mow today? We check our phones for the most recent forecast. Should I spray today? We monitor dewpoints, humidity and temperatures. Will I pull the tarp prior to today’s game? We study the weather radar. There is a tremendous amount of weather information out there and nearly all of us have some form of a weather app on our phones or a link to our favorite weather website to help us make day-to-day management decisions. Let’s take a journey, to see what is out there and what information will help us make the best weather-based decisions possible.

When looking for basic information, it is best to have most or all important data on the first screen or within one or two clicks from the first screen. That is often a good way to judge how well your app will benefit you over time. As an example, The National Weather Service includes much of the basic data (Figure 1). At a glance, you can get a good idea of what is happening now and what will happen in the immediate future. High and low temperatures provide a quick mental image of how the day (and night) may influence your maintenance plans, while winds, dewpoint and relative humidity provide a quick insight on irrigation requirements, disease potential, and infield skin management requirements.

It is beneficial to see both relative humidity and dewpoint together. Viewing only either limits your view of the big picture.

For example, a relative humidity of 65% with dewpoints over 70 degrees indicate that less time may be spent watering the infield skin and instead used to scout for diseases. The same relative humidity with dewpoints under 40 may indicate a majority of the day should be dedicated to watering the skin and irrigating.

K

WHICH APP IS THE BEST?

Honestly, there is no one best app so it is important to find an app or a number of apps that provide you the most reliable and quickly available information.

FIGURE

Basic Information

that is important to have available with the least number of clicks would be:

1

• High and Low Temperatures (including overnight lows) • Dewpoint • Relative Humidity • Short-Term Weather Forecasts

Intermediate Information

includes:

• Radar (Base and Composite Reflectivity) • Satellite Imagery • Severe Weather (especially lightning).

Advanced Information

would be:

• Echo Tops • Vertically Integrated Liquid • Digital Storm Accumulation • Forecast Discussion

Summer 2021 • Pennsylvania Turfgrass 13

Feature Article • continued

INTERMEDIATE INFORMATION When making game-time decisions such as tarp pulls or field evacuations due to severe weather, radar becomes an important tool. There are numerous good weather radar apps available. Many are free, some require an annual fee of $US 10 to 50. Many of the fee-based apps offer expanded functionality, precision and overall quality of information. Regardless of cost, radar app selection should prioritize the type of reflectivity the radar images are based upon. There are two types, Base Reflectivity and Composite Reflectivity. Each time a radar transmitter spins, it sends out a microwave ‘sweep’ at different elevations to get a complete picture of all atmosphere elevations. A Base Reflectivity image represents only a single sweep of the radar transmitter. This means that near the transmitter the radar ‘sees’ low in the storms and as distance increases the beam rises and can overshoot the core of heavier precipitation. Many High-Resolution (Hi-Res) radar images feature only Base Reflectivity sweeps.

Composite Reflectivity stitches together all elevation scans, in order, to create an image that represents a more complete picture of an incoming storm. These are often lower-resolution images and may be more pixelated. Figures 2 and 3 are of the same storm with the former being a Base Reflectivity image and the latter a Composite Reflectivity image.

Figure 4 shows the different reflectivity options you may have within a radar app, and again illustrates not all radar imagery is the same. So, when trying to make critical game-time decisions, a radar image using Base Reflectivity may grossly underestimate the significance of an incoming storm. When selecting a radar app, be sure investigate the types of radar images it provides and be prepared to spend a few dollars for radar that will prove worthwhile in the future.

SATELLITE IMAGERY There are numerous Satellite Imagery options as well. They provide visible cloud cover, infrared (the most common that we see), moisture content, and all-in-one maps that include a combination of radar, infrared, and weather station models to tell a complete weather story. Satellite images can give you a broader perspective of how the weather is behaving on a wider, more continental scale. The images and loops illustrate air flow, cloud and moisture movement and overall dynamics of frontal systems. These large-scale images and video loops can help in longer-term planning. They can aid in project preparation and be used as a tool to help protect fields when communicating with administrators that may be considering additional unexpected events during non-use days. It is useful to compare these images with regular weather maps to get a good working knowledge of fronts and changing weather systems.

Base Reflectivity FIGURE

FIGURE

2

4

Composite Reflectivity FIGURE

3

14 Pennsylvania Turfgrass • Summer 2021

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Feature Article • continued

SEVERE WEATHER Lightning is the most critical facet of severe weather for sport turf managers. In 2019, one in five people struck by lightning were engaged in an outdoor sporting activity. Having an app that can provide you lightning information instantly or within a click on your phone is important. The lightning information from the WeatherBug app for Figure 5 only required a short scroll down and a single click. An old AM radio is also good to have on-hand as a back up lightning detector. Significant increase in crackles and static transmitted across AM radio bands are dependable indicators of lightning activity in the area. Old School!

(Figure 6). This can be valuable information to report to the front office when asked about making a call on a game or whether the conditions will be safe to conduct a last-minute tarp pull. Another tool to assess the strength of a storm is Vertically Integrated Liquid (VIL). The VIL index measures how much water is being transported vertically throughout a storm cloud and is another indicator of a storm’s updraft strength. Taller updrafts tend to have higher values of VIL and are more likely to produce hail.

One more tool that can be used to help determine the total accumulation of a precipitation event is Digital Storm Accumulation. By allowing you to assess discrete accumulations over short periods of time, this tool may help you determine whether or not to pull a field cover for a particular rain event, saving time and energy that could be used elsewhere and avoid unnecessary delays.

This tool may also aid in determining the potential of a flash flood event in your area.

ADVANCED INFORMATION SUMMARY As we work towards becoming more proficient with understanding weather and being able to make better weather-based decisions, we find more advanced tools to help us. Echo Tops or Cloud Height is another function to help us assess the intensity of an oncoming storm. An Echo Top measures the overall height of a storm, which is an indicator of the strength of storm updrafts. Stronger updrafts make convective wind gusts and large hail more likely.

When several storms are on radar, the Echo Tops tool can point out the more severe storms and the direction they are travelling

Technological advancements afford us incredibly convenient tools and information apps that support worker and clientele safety while improving our maintenance, irrigation, pest management, and playability decision-making. Take advantage of this opportunity by investigating these different apps and functions. Poll your colleagues, service providers, and blogs/forums to best experiment and discover what works best for you and your facility.

FIGURE

5

FIGURE

6

16 Pennsylvania Turfgrass • Summer 2021

Between the Lines

STMA, KAFMO and FFA Team Up to Nurture PA Turfgrass Careers

The

sports field management industry continues to evolve and offer many excellent career opportunities — but more and more often there are not enough qualified personnel to fill open positions. KAFMO leaders have committed to a partnership with the Sports Turf Managers Association and Future Farmers of America to address this gap and attract the next generation of turfgrass students in Pennsylvania. It was a natural next step. As KAFMO President Dan Douglas points out, “FFA members are already aware of the impact the Green Industry has on everyone’s lives. Introducing a niche segment of the industry such as turfgrass science exposes students to a major that they can easily relate to.”

Awareness and Opportunities STMA Education Manager Kristen Althouse, who is spearheading the FFA Turfgrass Science program nationwide, estimates that 90% of graduates who earn a degree in turfgrass science will land a job right out of college. However, current enrollment in turfgrass science at colleges and universities does not reflect this high rate of success. In a survey conducted by Golf Course Management magazine, when 40 schools were asked about turfgrass program enrollment, 70% of them reported lower enrollment compared to 10 years ago. One of the challenges contributing to the labor shortage, according to Althouse, is that high school students are simply unaware of turfgrass science as a career path. “STMA is therefore working with FFA to create awareness and opportunities for young people to enter the industry and to make a turfgrass science curriculum available nationally for secondary agriculture programs. Everyone at STMA – the board of directors, the members – is really passionate about this career. They see the long-term benefits of involving these students in the industry and they want to see it prosper,” says Althouse.

PSU Senior Extension Educator Jeff Fowler, who recorded several training sessions for the new FFA program in Pennsylvania, agrees enthusiastically. “Our goal is to provide educational material that can be useful to high school aged students in Pennsylvania, expose them to a potential new field of study, and perhaps a new career opportunity,” he says. Many high school agriculture programs across the nation use the FFA to enhance the leadership and experiential learning portions of their program.

Keystone Athletic Field Managers Organization 1451 Peter’s Mountain Road Dauphin, PA 17018-9504 www.KAFMO.org • Email: KAFMO@aol.com

18 Pennsylvania Turfgrass • Summer 2021

Through Career and Leadership Development Events, participating FFA members in grades 7 to 12 are challenged to develop critical thinking skills and effective decision-making skills, foster teamwork, and promote communication while recognizing the value of ethical competition and individual achievement.

STMA’s ultimate goal is to create a turfgrass science Career Development Event at the National FFA level. But first a turfgrass science CDE must be implemented at state levels. To date, New Jersey, Oklahoma, Virginia, and South Carolina have successfully hosted turfgrass science CDEs in their states and now the Pennsylvania FFA has approved a Turfgrass Science CDE for 2021, to take place in May. This inaugural event was originally planned for 2020, but the pandemic forced its cancellation. The 2021 event will take place virtually. Individuals or teams of 3–4 students may compete. The event will consist of a general knowledge exam of 100 comprehensive questions on turfgrass science and management, an identification segment on weeds, turfgrass varieties, insects, and biotic and abiotic damage, and an oral presentation of solutions to a sports field management scenario.

A Team Effort Launching the Turfgrass Science FFA program in Pennsylvania has been above all a team effort. STMA provides support with the turfgrass science curriculum and the CDE, Penn State University faculty have created tutorials for PA teachers on how to effectively teach the curriculum, and KAFMO provides the platform to host this educational content. The curriculum is available for a fee through National STMA; KAFMO makes the video tutorials created

by Penn State turfgrass scientists available free of charge. KAFMO also provides a valuable network of sports field professionals to support teacher success in the classroom, as well as to prepare students for the contest. “KAFMO will play a key role in supporting teachers and students as interest in and awareness of turfgrass science grow throughout Pennsylvania through job opportunities and continuing education opportunities. The KAFMO Board has been all-in from the beginning,” says Althouse. “Having KAFMO’s support for the Career Development contest, especially when we go back to an in-person event, will be essential to its success.”

Contact: Linda Kulp, Executive Secretary Phone: 717-497-4154 kulp1451@gmail.com

Contact: Dan Douglas, President Phone: 610-375-8469 x 212 KAFMO@aol.com

The program benefits from the expertise of some of Penn State University Turfgrass Science’s most experienced people. Dr. Peter Landschoot, Professor of Turfgrass Science, teaches about turfgrass germination and growth, anatomical features, and how the anatomical features lead to correct identification of turfgrasses. He also provides a lesson on common turfgrass diseases. Dr. Andrew McNitt, Professor of Soil Science, discusses various soil properties that are specific to turfgrass systems, including cultivation and topdressing, soil management and drainage. Jeffrey Fowler, Senior Extension Educator, addresses mowing and turfgrass insects. Bradley Jakubowski, Instructor in Agronomy, addresses turfgrass irrigation. Tanner Delvalle, Extension Educator, addresses turfgrass fertility, aeration and topdressing, thatch, IPM, and Weed Management. And Jon Seaman, the Penn State coordinator for the PA FFA State Convention/ Activities Week, has been very supportive in getting the Career Development Event up and running, according to Althouse.

The goals of the FFA turfgrass science curriculum and Career Development Event in the state are threefold: building a solid foundation in the science and practices of turfgrass management, introducing students to the career opportunities available in the industry, and creating a pipeline of qualified individuals for professional positions. As the new FFA program prepares to launch in Pennsylvania, Kristen Althouse is full of praise for the team effort that has made it possible. “I know all of these guys have so much on their plates with other responsibilities and they have taken the time to produce these videos and get on board with this effort. They see the long-term benefit of getting these students involved so that there is a future to this industry.”

Mike Kachurak

ISA Certified Arborist PD-2739A

334 South Henderson Road King of Prussia, PA 19406

Office 610.265.6004 Cell 570.262.3612 mikek@shreinertreecare.com www.shreinertreecare.com

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This article is largely based on communications by Kristen Althouse.

Summer 2021 • Pennsylvania Turfgrass 19

Penn State News

Recent and Noteworthy Developments in the PSU Turfgrass Breeding and Genetics Program

By David R. Huff, Chris Benson, and Matt Sheltra, Dept of Plant Science, Pennsylvania State University

Notable accomplishments by the Turfgrass Breeding and Genetics Program in 2020 include: • Award of a $268K portion of a $4.3 million multi-institutional grant from the USDA National Institute of Food and Agriculture to develop tools for genomics-assisted breeding in polyploid specialty crops. Participants include life scientists across the US and Europe, South America, and New Zealand.

• Receipt of a $10K Tree-of-Life Award from Dovetail Genomics (Scotts Valley, CA) to sequence the buffalograss genome. Through subsequent collaboration with University of Nebraska scientists, we successfully parlayed that award into a further $20K grant necessary to complete the approximate 430 million nucleotide

base sequencing. Buffalograss typifies the American shortgrass prairie region more than any other native plant species.

• The discovery that greens-type Poa annua is capable of remembering whether it is being mowed or not and can pass along these memories to its seed progeny. This exciting discovery, i.e. that a turfgrass that can remember imposed culture, was published in Crop Science (Benson, C.L., Q. Mao, and D.R. Huff. 2020.

Global DNA methylation predicts epigenetic reprogramming and transgenerational plasticity in Poa annua L. https://doi. org/10.1002/csc2.20337) • Successful entry of three experimental creeping bentgrass varieties into the National Turfgrass Evaluation Program’s 2020 putting green trial, a 5-yr evaluation conducted at 19 locations across the US.

R E SE ARC H UPDAT E:

We

The Turfgrass Entomology Laboratory

are currently managing multiple projects across Pennsylvania including annual bluegrass weevil (ABW) resistance to insecticides, earthworm biology and cultural control, and insecticide trials targeting multiple pests. PhD candidate Garrett Price is investigating how insecticide resistance may be affected by insect gut microbiome. His work is critical to determining how resistance evolves and may provide solutions for reversing resistance in pests like ABW. Audrey Simard joined the lab prior to the pandemic and is now ramping up her project investigating turfgrasses’ defense against herbivory. We hope to use her findings to develop strategies to prime plants in advance of insect feeding to reduce insecticide load and/or assist in breeding better defended turfgrasses.

We have also been busy travelling to various field sites to scout for insects. As expected, we have observed some lingering damage

from chinch bugs (from end of summer 2020) on turf failing to green-up in spring. We are continuing to monitor these populations with environmental conditions. Areas affected by chinch bug in 2020 grow larger should the spring continue to track on the warmer and drier side. We are also waiting to see whether the large crane fly flights in Fall 2020 translate into greater amounts damaged turf (~ April-May 2021).

Lastly, Danny Kline has been diligently working on getting our laboratory website up and running:

plantscience.psu.edu/research /labs/turfgrass-entomology We hope to post news stories, research publications, and turfgrass insect factsheets throughout the year.

ALUMNI UPDATES COLLIN HARLEY (Cert. ’14) is now the golf course superintendent at St. David’s GC in Wayne, PA.

20 Pennsylvania Turfgrass • Summer 2021

CAMERON STEPHENS (MS AGRO ’18) has been selected the 2021 Award of Excellence recipient by the Musser Intl. Turfgrass Foundation.

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(800) 668-8873 (519) 527-1080 Summer 2021 • Pennsylvania Turfgrass 21

Penn State News • continued

2021 PTC SCHOLARSHIP RECIPIENTS The Pennsylvania Turfgrass Council is pleased to announce the recipients of its 2021 scholarship program.

All five recipients are seniors in the Turfgrass Science major and will be graduating in May.

WILLIAM COVERT is a native of West Chester, Pennsylvania and has interned at Aronomink Golf Club, Pine Valley Golf Club, and Muirfield Village Golf Club.

After graduation he plans to return to Aronomink Golf Club as an Assistant-in-Training.

SHAWN MACKIN is a native Richboro, Pennsylvania and has previously worked at the Union League Golf Club at Torresdale. He is planning to work for the Philadelphia Eagles grounds crew after graduation.

SKYLAR RADKA is from Reading, Pennsylvania. He has worked at Moselem Springs Golf Club in Reading and has also worked for Centre Hills Country Club in State College. After graduation, he will be employed by Pelican’s Nest Golf in Bonita Springs, Florida. Being in Florida will also allow him time to spend with family there.

BRYCE SCHAEFFER is from Chambersburg, Pennsylvania. He has interned with Quality Turf Unlimited, Go-Sports Turf, and Four Seasons Crop Care.

He has also worked for the Beaver Stadium Grounds Crew while at Penn State. After graduation, he plans continue working in collegiate sports turf management.

TREVOR WATSON’S hometown is Perkiomenville, Pennsylvania. He has completed an internship with Brightview Landscapes and also worked on their team an irrigation technician. He has also worked at a local golf course during high school.

His plans after leaving Penn State are to attend graduate school at Rutgers University where he will be conducting research on False Green Kyllinga.

22 Pennsylvania Turfgrass • Summer 2021

For use on: Trees, landscape plants, golf course tees, greens, fairways, and sports turf.

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