green world AN INDUSTRYWIDE PUBLICATION OF THE NEW IERSEY TURFGRASS ASSOCIATION Vol. 19 No. 1 Nematodes: where did they come from? Ronald F. Myers Over 20 nematode parasites of grasses are distributed throughout New Jersey. The suitability of the host grass in providing nutritional re- PLANT DESTRUCTIVE NEMA Female Plant- Parasite Nematode Diagrammatic sketch of a typical female plant-parasite nematode showing the hypodermic-like stylet and the pumping bulb used to feed upon the roots of turfgrasses. Ronald F. Myers, Nematologist and Professor, Department of Plant Pathol­ ogy, Cook College and Agricultural Ex­ periment Station, Rutgers University, New Brunswick, NJ 08903 quirements exerts the greatest in­ fluence on survival of a particular species of nematode and the total number of nematodes that develops. Soil texture provides an additional re­ straint on certain nematodes. Other soil factors such as pH and nutrient levels produce only an indirect effect on nematodes through modifications in plant growth. Not all turfgrasses are equally good hosts to pathogenic nematodes. Kentucky bluegrasses favor the de­ velopment of high numbers of ring nematodes while low numbers of ring nematodes are found in many culti­ vars of perennial ryegrasses. Stunt nematodes pathogenic to most turf­ grasses are absent from some selec­ tion of fine fescue. Fescues and bentgrasses are non-hosts for the grass cyst nematode while Kentucky bluegrass and perennial ryegrasses are good hosts. Other such exam­ ples of nematode-host incompatibility are currently being investigated. The distribution of the grass cyst nematode, which causes a slight yel­ lowing of Kentucky blue and other grasses, seems restricted to north­ ern NJ, apparently due to the pres- — continued on page 5 June 1990 Tom Morris Golf Award Goes to Sherwood Moore New Jersey Turf growers can take great pride in Sherwood Moore’s receiv­ ing the Tom Morris Award from the Golf Course Superintendents of America this February. This award was created to honor persons who have contributed greatly to the game of golf. Previous winners have been Arnold Palmer, Bob Hope, President Gerald Ford, Patty Berg, Robert Trent Jones, Gene Sara- zen, and Chi Chi Rodriguez. Sherwood is the first golf superintendent to re­ ceive this recognition. Awaredee: Sherwood Moore (GCSAA photo) New Jersey is especially proud as Sherwood spent a large part of his ca­ reer in this state. He has been a mem­ ber of the New Jersey Superintendents Association over a span of fifty years. — continued on page 4 OPINIONS AND COMMENTS Sustaining Members of NJTA Are Annual Bluegrass Herbicides Working? Several new annual bluegrass herbicides developed near the time of my retirement. Since then, I have heard various remarks about their potential and their usefulness in the field. Unfortunately, there seems to be no long-term formal studies by State Experimental Sta­ tion personnel under golf turf condi­ tions. What is the relative effectiveness of these several market herbicides? Are they worth the cost and risk on the golf course? We can scarcely blame the Experimental Station re­ searcher for this lack of informa­ tion. Most administrators refuse to recognize or give credit for this type of research. Add to this need the fact that one test or field application seldom gives the technical answers needed. Where does this situation with chemical control of annual blue­ grass leave the golf course superin­ tendent who has a serious infesta­ tion of this weed? If you feel you should use herbicides, leave an un­ treated check strip over several season. This technique was dis­ cussed in the September 1989 is­ sue of Greenworld. The procedure is simple and it will help you to de­ cide more quickly and accurately if the program is worthy of continua­ tion. • REE Green World is published three times a year by the New Jersey Turfgrass Association, P.O. Box 231, New Brun­ swick, NJ 08903. Consulting editor: Dr. Ralph Engel; advertising chair­ man, Sam Leon; production editor and layout artist: David Crismond. A-L Services Incorporated A. Lombardi Landscaping Aabar, Inc. / The Morie Co. Agri-Diagnostics Associates Alpine Country Club Aqua-Flo, Incorporated Aquarius Irrigation Supply Inc. Aquashade, Incorporated Aquatrols Corp, of America Arthur's Landscape & Irrigation Co. Associated Marketing, Incorporated Barefoot Grass Lawn Service Barnes Landscape Basking Ridge Golf Course, Inc. The Beden's Brook Club Benco Services, Landscape Div. Brickman Industries, Inc. Brouwer Turf Equipment Ltd. Bunton Turf Products, Inc. Cedar Creek Gold Course Champion Landscape and Tree, Inc Coger Farms & Garden Center D & J Landscaping D. Marzano Landscaping Inc. De Lalio Sod Farms, Incorporated Del Val Design Landscape Double Eagle Equipment Company Dow Chemical, USA DowElanco DuBrow's Nurseries Duke's Lawn Services, Inc. Ehrlich Green Team Evergreen Lawn Sprinklers Farmstead Golf & Country Club Fertl-Soil Turf Supply, Incorporated Fiddler's Elbow Country Club Flanagan's Landscape-Irrigation Florence Landscape Services, Inc. Forest Hills Field Club Forsgate Country Club Fredette Landscaping Freehold Township Parks & Rec. G & L Lawn Service, Inc. Garfield Williamson, Incorporated Glen Summit Nurseries, Inc. Grass Roots, Incorporated Green Grass Landscape Svc., Inc. The Green Machine, Inc. Green Oasis Landscaping Grinkevich Lawn & Landscaping Hoffman-LaRoche, Inc. Homestead Landscaping Homestead Lawn Sprinkler Co., Inc. Hopewell Valley Golf Club Horizon Estates Irrigation Unlimited, Incorporated Jade Run Turf & Sod Farm JEP Sales, Incorporated Jimni Krickett, Incorporated Lawn Champ Lawn Power Equipment Company Lawn Spray Company Lebanon Chemical Company Lee Rain, Incorporated —page 2— Leon's Sod Farm Leonard Reinhardt, Incorporated Lesco, Incorporated Lofts Seed Incorporated MacAndrews & Forbes Company L.J. Makrancy & Sons, Inc. Meadowbrook Lawn Service, Inc. Metro Milorganite, Incorporated Mid Atlantic Equipment Corp. Middletown Sprinkler Company Montco / Surfside National Lawn Services of NJ, Inc. NJ Nursery & Landscape Assh., Inc. Northrup King Company O.M. Scott & Sons Paige Electric Corporation Partac Peat Corporation Paul's Lawnscaping Pennsauken Country Club Pine Island Turf Nurseries, Inc. Pleasant Hills Landscaping Pocono Turf Supply Company Rapp Sod Farm Reed's Sod Farm Reid Sod Farm Rich Green Lawns Rhone-Poulenc Ag. Company Riverside Cemetery Rockland Chemical Company, Inc. Rosedale & Rosehill Cemetery Assn. Royal Lawns of Monmouth Rumson Country Club Sacco's Landscape, Incorporated Sandoz Specialty Sales Scian's Landscaping Incorporated Seabright Lawn Tennis Club Seacoast Labs Sequoia Lawn Care Spring-Green Lawn Care South Jersey Weed Control Steve Tanis Lawn Care Storr Tractor Company Surf Landscaping Sweeney Seed Company Toms River Lawn & Sprinkler Inc. Trenton Country Club Turf Seed Incorporated Turf Grass Sod Farms Inc. Upper Montclair Country Club Vaughan Seed Co. W. A. Cleary Corporation Wayne Township Parks Department Wells Lawn Service, Incorporated Wilfred MacDonald, Incorporated Wilpat Turf Sprinklers, Incorporated Woodbridge Center Woodbury Board of Education Woodruff/Lerco Lawns of So. Jersey Spaceship Earth did not come with an instruction book. --Buckminster Fuller OPINIONS And Comments Should Topdressing Cores Be Removed? The answer is usually "No" where a good soil base and topdressing have been used in recent years. Many dispute this, but my reasons are several. Soil from the cores are the poor man’s topdressing. Top dressing is costly. Removal of the cores soil is work. This soil is usual­ ly as good if not better than what you buy. Bentgrass needs more topdressing than typically used in these days of fast greens. Finally, the core soil usually has more life than prepared topdressing. A key concern is the comparative quality of the existing surface soil of the green and the topdressing. Obviously, no one argues that cores should be left if they are clay or very low in sand content. All agree the existing soil and the top­ dressing should have a similar high sand content. This commentary is not dealing with 100% sand. It can be argued that leaving the 1990 OFFICERS OF THE N.J.T.A. Robert Dickison, President Richard Hurley, V President Ralph Engel, Secretary Carol Wolcott, Exec. Secretary Joseph Bianco, Treasurer William Waddington, Past President Henry Indyk, Expo Chairman EXECUTIVE BOARD Robert Dobson Richard Gorbich Armand LaSage Samuel Leon L.J. Makrancy, Jr. Joseph W. Manning, Jr. Ed Milewski Bruce Nagy Terra-Green PARTAC REDUCE RAIN DELAYS! GOLF COURSE TOP-DRESSING WITH THE REDDER, LESS DUSTY SOIL CONDITIONER & DRYING AGENT THAT RETAINS MOISTURE IN HOT WEATHER THE PROFESSIONAL S CHOICE . . . SINCE 1922 THE BASEBALL DIAMOND MIXES USED BY OVER 50 PROFESSIONAL TEAMS PLUS TOWNS AND SCHOOLS ACROSS THE U.S.A. AND CANADA. SPECIAL MIXES FOR INFIELDS, PITCHER'S MOUNDS, HOMEPLATE AREAS, & WARNING TRACKS. PARTAC GREEN SAND FOR DIVOT REPAIRS The Ultimate Solution to Unsightly Divots at Televised Golf Tournaments and other Sports Events! AVAILABLE NATIONWIDE 1-800-247-2326 IN NJ. 201-637-4191 PARTAC PEAT CORPORATION KELSEY PARK, GREAT MEADOWS, N.J. 07838 AMERICA'S PREMIUM TOP-DRESSING HEAT TREATED CONTROL THATCH, PROMOTE HEALTHY TURF & SMOOTH PLAYING SURFACES plugs on slows and messes the cul­ tivation and topdressing operation. Part of the answer to this is that greens should not be wet or saturat­ ed at the time of cultivation. With moderately dry soil, matting and blowing the grass tufts to the edge for pickup is a most feasible opera­ tion. I expect there is too little check­ ing of the topdressing purchased or used. Make sure the dealer does not change his stock without telling you in advance. Have frequent tests for sand, silt, and clay con­ tent performed as well as the distri­ bution of sand size . Topdressing is too important and its impact too longlasting to be done loosely. •REE Patient: Doctor, am I getting bet­ ter? Doctor: I do not know. Let me feel your purse — next patient please. Consider the advantages of sod TURF TYPE TALL FESCUE Trap banks and edges, green and tee banks and areas along cart paths need special attention. Or even those traffic areas around the club and halfway houses. Consider Rebel sod: • Holds up better than Kentucky bluegrass • Requires less irrigation compared to Kentucky bluegrass • Requires less fertilizer than Kentucky bluegrass • Heat tolerant • Excellent dark green color • Greater disease resistance than most other turfgrasses In tough areas or wherever you want good-looking turf and less maintenance. Use Rebel sod. Lofts Seed Inc. World’s largest marketer of turfgrass seed Bound Brook, NJ 08805 (201) 356-8700 • (800) 526-3890 LOFTS Available through: S. Novasack Bros. Turf Farm South Seaville, NJ (609) 263-2400 Tuckahoe Turf Farms Tuckahoe, NJ (609) 628-2415 Bohm’s Sod Farm Woodbine, NJ (609) 861-2785 Pine Island Turf Pine Island, NY (914) 258-4545 Tom Morris Golf Award Goes to Sherwood Moore — continued from page 1 He was a charter member of the New Jersey Turfgrass Association and he received the New Jersey Turf Associ­ ation’s Hall of Fame Award in 1986. He attended every New Jersey Rut­ gers 3-5 day turf course during the fifty year period from the mid-1930’s until he retired in 1984. Sherwood has a great sense of hu­ mor, is a pleasure to know, and is a very considerate person. Equally im­ portant, he had the great profession­ al qualities of all outstanding golf course superintendents. I remember him as one of the superintendents Mowing Height Effect on Temperature of Greens in July T. Salaiz and R.C. Shearman Nebraska Turfgrass Foundation Bul­ letin. Vol. 10:8, 1989 Daily mowing at 1/8 inch gave greater temperatures in July than mowing bentgrass at 5/32 or 3/16 inch. This follows the general think- Sherwood Moore receives the NJ Turfgrass Ass. Hall of Fame award from Dave McGee in 1986 who listened keenly in the front row at lectures and on turf research field days for many years at Rutgers. Sherwood was a frequent lecturer in our 3-5 day courses and our two-year courses. In addition to his profession­ alism, he delivered the good turf. He ¡ng and reports from higher regimes of mowing on other turf that higher tem­ peratures develop with closer mowing. The study has not had time to show possible effects of the more severe mowing on bentgrass survival, roots and disease incidence. Theory and ob­ servations force us to expect these are also affected negatively. liked turf and his touch always gave his turf and other plants real class. Sherwood, your awards are greatly deserved. Your friend and fellow su­ perintendent, Robert Williams, gave the ultimate tribute by saying "...in my opinion, you are the all-time, most outstanding golf course superinten­ dent ever.” Sherwood, New Jersey turf salutes you again! •REE country club greenskeeper Lebanon Pro •REE Professional Turf Products Jacobsen Turfcat II GW 224 Wilfred Mac Donald, Inc. 340 Main Avenue Clifton, NJ 07014 201-471-0244 •Jacobsen • Notional •Giant Vac •Cushman •FMC • Olathe • Gravely • Broyhill • Howard • Smithco •Terro-Care Lebanon TOTAL TURF CARE P. O. Box 189, Dayton, NJ 08810 P. O. Box 180, Lebanon, PA 17042 A division of Lebanon Chemical Corporation Nematodes: where did they come from? — continued from page 1 ence of greater amounts of silt and clay found in these soils. This nema­ tode is absent from soils having a high sand content. Conversely, the sting nematode, many species of stubby root nematodes, and the needle nematode attain their highest numbers in soils with 80% or more fine sands. The highest numbers of lesion nematodes occur in fine sandy loams and other sandy soils. Pin nematodes develop highest popula­ tions in clay loams. Dagger and sev­ eral spiral nematodes also do better in heavier soils. In addition to host suitability, the Rockland. Professional Products For Lawns, Gardens And Trees ■ Fertilizers ■ Fertilizer/Pre-emergent Crabgrass Control ■ Fertilizer/Herbicide Combinations ■ Crabgrass Preventers ■ Herbicides ■ Fungicides ■ Insecticides ■ Specialty Products ■ Granulars & Liquids ■ Custom Formulations and Blending Available Rockland Chemical Co. Inc. P.O. Box 809. West Caldwell. NJ 07007 From NJ 201-575-1322 Outside NJ 800-543-1311 presence or absence in soil of a par­ ticular nematode often relates to pre­ vious vegetation history and prior in­ troduction (past dissemination pressures). Nematodes are dis­ persed, scattered, transported, and introduced to new grass areas by many means. Movement of nema­ todes infested plants and soil is the most common method of dissemina­ tion. Soil movement with plants, as fill, on tires of equipment and automo­ biles, or through wind, sand dressing, in peat moss, on golf shoes, and by animals, represent several of the ways nematodes are introduced into new areas. Nematodes are carried along during soil erosion by moving water and are spread by flooding and irrigation. Some nematodes are spread by birds, migratory animals, and insects. For example, the grass cyst nematode is dispersed by migra­ tory geese. Eggs are produced and stored internally within the bodies of female grass syst nematodes (100- 200 eggs/cyst). The protein of the fe­ male cuticle (body wall) turns brown and becomes a tough protective Parkmaster The Professional for large areas. cyst. Cysts, ingested by geese along with grass roots, remain undi­ gested passing through the intestine, and are deposited in bird droppings. The eggs protected within the cysts remain viable, hatching during late fall and early spring to produce a new generation of grass cyst nematodes. During the time it takes for the cysts to move through a goose, the goose may have migrated to a different geo- graphical area, dispersing this nema­ tode pathogen to other areas along the migration path. Another interesting example of dis­ persion of a nematode pathogen oc­ curs when the pinewood nematode is spread during maturation feeding and — continued on page 6 WE CAN HELP YOU GROW Better Quality Turf Johnathan Green stocks more bluegrass, fine textured rye­ grass and turf-type tall fescue varieties than any other seed house in the mid- atlantic and eastern states. Johnathan Green stocks an entire range of insecticides, herbicides, fertilizers and specialty turf products for professional lawn services, golf courses, municipalities, sod growers, hydro-seeders and all landscape contractors. Johnathan Green provides you with product information, custom turf care programs and prompt knowledgeable attention to your particu­ lar turf problems... large or small. The Toro Parkmaster mows swaths from 30 inches to 18 1/2 feet wide -up to 80 acres a day With a 7 or 9 unit hydraulically-controlled frame it has a compact pattern of gangs for easy mowing, easy transporting The Parkmaster is the mowing tractor built to take Spartan gangs Comes with powerful gas or diesel engine with cab and roll over protection system (ROPS) optional TORO Storr Tractor Co 3191 U S Highway 22 Somerville NJ 08876 201/722-9830 The Professionals That Keep You Cutting. FOR THE FASTEST SERVICE IN THE EAST CALL Johnathan Green FARMINGDALE, NEW JERSEY 07727 IN NEW JERSEY 201-938-7007 1-800-526-2303 OUT OF STATE Nematodes: where did they come from? — continued from page 5 oviposition by Sawyer beetles (Mono- chamus spp.). These insects, follow­ ing pupation, are invaded by nema­ todes within the stem of a pine tree and upon emergence from the pine the beetles transport the pinewood nematodes to new host trees. After entering a new tree, the nematodes feed on thin-walled cells until the tree is severely injured or killed. Austrian, Scotch, and Japanese black pines planted throughout NJ in parks, land­ scaped grounds, along highways and on golf courses, are susceptible, es­ pecially when growing under stress conditions. The presence of pathogenic nema­ todes in turfgrasses and ornamental trees should be expected and ac­ cepted as normal since most problem nematodes are native and widely dis­ tributed throughout NJ. Come to Lofts Field Day! And Earn Pesticide Recertification Credits ■ Join your colleagues and catch up on the hottest topics in turf. ■ Learn about Integrated Pest Management for the ’90s. And hear talks given by turf experts from around the country. ■ Tour Lofts’ research test plots. And enjoy a great lunch ■ Learn a lot. And have a great time too. Join us at Lofts Research Farm in Martinsville, NJ on June 20, 1990 from 8:30 A.M. to 3:00 P.M. Reserve your place. Contact Cindy Kennette: Call: (800)526-3890 (201)560-1590 (800) 624-1474 in NJ FAX: (201) 560-0884 Lofts Seed Inc. World's largest marketer of turfgrass seed Bound Brook, NJ 088050146 LOFTS Blessed are the young for they shall inherit the national debt. Those who research and theorize on the "greenhouse” effect on global warming have some heated differences of opinion. Aerosols made and sold in the U.S. — except for those allowed for essential uses, including important medicinal products — have not contained chloro­ fluorocarbon (CFC) propellants since 1978. PATRONS LISTING Michael P. Renzetti PLEASANT HILLS LANDSCAPING Golf Course Road Flanders, NJ 07836 (201) 927-1684 Samuel Leon LEON'S SOD FARMS Instant Lawn-Cultivated Grass Sod RD#1 Box 169 Frenchtown, NJ (201) 996-2255 08825 Drew Madzin ROYAL LAWNS P.O. Box 236 Farmingdale, NJ 07727 (201) 780-4950 Joe Bianco & Son GREEN THUMB SERVICES 1910 Fourth Street North Brunswick, NJ 08902 (201) 297-3333 Bob Scott DOWELANCO 560 Ashwood Road Springfield, NJ 07081 (201) 376-7290 W.A. CLEARY CHEMICAL CORP. 1049 Somerset Street Somerset, NJ 08873 (201) 247-8000 [Turf Chem & Fert] Call: Barbara Cleary or Russ Ward Rick Apgar, Joe Stahl METRO MILORGANITE, INC. 365 Adams St. Bedford Hills, NY 10507 (914) 666-3171 LAWN POWER EQUIPMENT CO. BROOKREST SOD FARM Ken Stattel P.O.Box 122 Marlboro, NJ 07746-0122 Tony Russo Deines-Magnum 2000 Millington, NJ 07946 (201) 647-5804