Rhizoctonia species associated with diseased turf grasses in New Zealand

Abstract

Rhizoctonia-like mycelium isolated from diseased turf grasses in New Zealand belonged to three species: Thanatephorus cucumeris (Frank) Donk, Waitea circinata Warcup&Talbot, and a Rhizoctonia sp, for which the perfect state is unknown. These three Rhizoctonia spp. were easily identified using certain described hyphal characteristics. W. circinata isolates were tolerant to the fungicide benomyl, whereas benodanil inhibited the growth of all three species. Benodanil should be investigated further as a possible control measure against Rhizoctonia diseases of turf.