Innovative Techniques for Managing Dollar Spot in Warm- and Cool-Season Turfgrasses: The Case of UV-B and UV-C Irradiations

Marco Santin, Lisa Caturegli, Lorenzo Gagliardi, Sofia Matilde Luglio, Simone Magni, Elisa Pellegrini, Claudia Pisuttu (), Michele Raffaelli, Marco Volterrani and Luca Incrocci
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Marco Santin: Department of Agriculture, Food and Environment, University of Pisa, Via del Borghetto 80, 56124 Pisa, Italy
Lisa Caturegli: Department of Agriculture, Food and Environment, University of Pisa, Via del Borghetto 80, 56124 Pisa, Italy
Lorenzo Gagliardi: Department of Agriculture, Food and Environment, University of Pisa, Via del Borghetto 80, 56124 Pisa, Italy
Sofia Matilde Luglio: Department of Agriculture, Food and Environment, University of Pisa, Via del Borghetto 80, 56124 Pisa, Italy
Simone Magni: Department of Agriculture, Food and Environment, University of Pisa, Via del Borghetto 80, 56124 Pisa, Italy
Elisa Pellegrini: Department of Agriculture, Food and Environment, University of Pisa, Via del Borghetto 80, 56124 Pisa, Italy
Claudia Pisuttu: Department of Agriculture, Food and Environment, University of Pisa, Via del Borghetto 80, 56124 Pisa, Italy
Michele Raffaelli: Department of Agriculture, Food and Environment, University of Pisa, Via del Borghetto 80, 56124 Pisa, Italy
Marco Volterrani: Department of Agriculture, Food and Environment, University of Pisa, Via del Borghetto 80, 56124 Pisa, Italy
Luca Incrocci: Department of Agriculture, Food and Environment, University of Pisa, Via del Borghetto 80, 56124 Pisa, Italy

Agriculture, 2025, vol. 15, issue 7, 1-16

Abstract: The management of Dollar spot, the fungal disease of turfgrasses, is complicated and, today, tends to include new eco-friendly approaches. The aim of this study is to evaluate the effect of UV-B and UV-C lamps against the infection of Clarireedia species in warm- and cool-season turfgrasses. In vitro tests were performed to evaluate the growth of C. jacksonii mycelium on Potato Dextrose Agar, irradiated with UV-B and UV-C at heights of 5 and 15 cm, 5 s per day for three consecutive days. The same treatments, prolonged for seven days, were applied on naturally infected potted Agrostis stolonifera and Cynodon dactylon × C. transvaalensis , for in vivo tests. Disease severity, antioxidant capacity, and pigment content were assessed at the end of the experiment. Only UV-C reduced the growth of C. jacksonii after 48 h at 5 cm (−36%) and 72 h at both distances (−15 and −27%). Agrostis stolonifera showed symptoms, reduced by UV-C at 5 cm, and fungal structures, except in UV-C exposed samples. Total antioxidant capacity increased after UV-B exposure at 5 cm (+10%). No variations in terms of photosynthetic pigments were observed. These results confirm the potential of UV-C lamps for the containment of Dollar spot.

Keywords: turfgrass; Agrostis stolonifera; Cynodon dactylon × C. transvaalensis; ultraviolet radiation; plant pathogen; Clarireedia jacksonii (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: Q1 Q10 Q11 Q12 Q13 Q14 Q15 Q16 Q17 Q18 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2025
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