Diseases

Leaf spots — tall fescue

Festuca arundinacea Schreb.

A group of fungal diseases manifesting as necrotic lesions on the leaf blade. Pathogens include species of the genera Pyricularia, Bipolaris, Drechslera, Curvularia, and Epicoccum.

In the reference 125 varieties crop Tall fescue, where this is mentioned in the description.

Pyricularia leaf spot, caused by Pyricularia oryzae, is considered the most dangerous disease in hot and humid climatic conditions. Symptoms begin as small chlorotic spots that rapidly enlarge, turning grayish-brown with a purple margin and characteristic sporulation under high humidity.

Helminthosporium leaf spots, triggered by fungi of the genera Bipolaris and Drechslera, as well as infections by Curvularia affinis and Epicoccum latusicollum, appear as round or oval spots in various shades of brown. As the disease progresses, the spots coalesce, causing necrosis and wilting of the leaves.

In current tall fescue phytopathology, there is no data on specific pathogen races or mapped resistance genes. The susceptibility of cultivars to this disease complex is evaluated primarily through empirical methods via field trials.

General information about the subject — on the page Leaf spot diseases.

Sources8

Varieties of Tall fescue mentioned in the description

Selection based on the description text, not on official evaluation: these data are absent from registers. For specific variety details, please refer to its profile.