I live in East Texas. Have brown patch fungus problem in yard. Have treated w/F-Stop
Twice and had prev. treated by Perm Green co. Still have problem. What to do now?
I have heard of using corm meal. What else?

Hi! Wedge1, and welcome to AMHD :)


I live in East Texas. Have brown patch fungus problem in yard. Have treated w/F-Stop
Twice and had prev. treated by Perm Green co. Still have problem. What to do now?
I have heard of using corm meal. What else?

First of all we need to know what we are dealing with. Is it really brown patch fungus (BPF)?
Look these over to help. There is a listing for BPF. If it is BPF, click on the fungicides link on the bottom for more guidance.
St. Augustine Grass(Stenatophrum secundatum) Disease Index (http://165.91.154.132/Texlab/Lawns/sagtop.html)

In the meantime...

Here is what Texas A&M University says about corn meal as a fungicide. Borrowed from:
Plant Pathology at Stephenville Research and Extension Center Part of the University System (http://stephenville.tamu.edu/pp/pdncr/)


Biological Control of Soilborne Fungi

It is known that certain fungal species in the genus Trichoderma feed on mycelium and sclerotia of Sclerotinia minor. Sclerotium rolfsii and Rhizoctonia sp.
All peanut fields in Texas tested to date have a natural population of Trichoderma.
For several years, tests have been conducted in Texas using corn meal to stimulate Trichoderma development as a way to control the major soilborne disease fungi.

When yellow corn meal is applied to fields in the presence of moist surface soil, Trichoderma builds up very rapidly over a 5 to 10 day period. The resulting high Trichoderma population can destroy vast amounts of Sclerotinia, Sclerotium and Rhizoctonia.
This enhanced, natural biological control process is almost identical to the processes that occur when crop rotation is practiced. The level of control with corn meal is influenced by:
organic matter source soil moisture temperature pesticides used

Seasonal applications of certain fungicides may inhibit Trichoderma. Testing will continue to determine the rates and application methods that will give consistent, economical control.

What this says is that using corn meal on peanuts is as good as crop rotation.

If the treatment did not work for you, then it was probably due to previous use of fungicide that killed off the Trichoderma (which occurs naturally in soil).
If not, then it is possible there was never any Trichoderma there to begin with and compost would be needed along with the corn meal.

The corn meal won't hurt, but it sounds like you've already tried a fungicide, so you're trichoderma levels may be low so you'll want to add the topdressing. Here's more information it also comes in a liquid:
Using Cornmeal as a Garden Fungicide (http://gardening.about.com/od/naturalorganiccontrol/qt/Cornmeal.htm)

As mentioned 'bove, add 1"-2" of topsoil/compost that has trichoderma (that occurs naturally), but don't totally cover the grass blades.


~ ~ ~ ~

If in fact you have "take all disease"

Take-all Root Rot Disease of St. Augustinegrass is a patch disease involving thinning, unresponsive turf, and severe root rot, and the causal organism is the fungus Gaeumannomyces graminis var. graminis google images (http://images.google.com/images?rlz=1C1CHMI_enUS335US335&sourceid=chrome&q=Take-all+Root+Rot+Disease+of+St.+Augustinegrass&um=1&ie=UTF-8&sa=N&hl=en&tab=wi)

See here:
http://westtexasgardening.org/Take%20All.pdf
I didn't see it listed in the 'bove PDF, but find a product called Banner Maxx.
It is in fact labeled for take all, if that's what it is.

Some pretty heady stuff:
Banner Maxx (http://pmep.cce.cornell.edu/profiles/extoxnet/metiram-propoxur/propiconazole-ext.html)

PAN Pesticides Database - Chemicals - propiconazole (http://www.pesticideinfo.org/Detail_Chemical.jsp?Rec_Id=PC34271)

Here's a place in Houston, you may need a license: Quality Feed & Garden Company (http://www.qualityfeedco.com/pesticides.htm)
Price 'bout $60/pt :eek:


Some other links of interest:
Take-all Patch (http://aggieturf.tamu.edu/answers4you/disease/takeall.html)

AggieTurf (http://aggieturf.tamu.edu/answers4you/diseases.htm)

East Texas Gardening (http://easttexasgardening.tamu.edu/)

Plant Answers (http://www.plantanswers.com/root_rot_fungus.htm)


K

I reviewed your ref. and it does appear to be Brn ptch. I have used myclobutanil(f-stop).
I may give the corn meal a try. Thanks for all the info. Wedge1.

Your welcome.

K