A collection of 40 university researchers and plant pathologists gathered recently to share industry insights at the 10th annual Turfgrass Disease Seminar. The event, sponsored by the Bayer Environmental Science/Chipco Professional Products Group, was held in Fort Lauderdale, Fla.
"The meeting is designed as a noncommercial summit, providing researchers with an unbiased forum to discuss their research with colleagues," emphasized Eric Kalasz, brand manager, fungicides, Bayer Environmental Science. "This seminar generates a lot of discussion and ideas each year. It is one of the few times the researchers can get together to candidly share their findings."
Industry researchers met to discuss topics relevant to disease control and turf management. Discussions included a variety of issues, including basal rot anthracnose management, QoI resistance management, bacterial wilt of Poa annua, silicon and gray leaf spot in St. Augustinegrass, and designing fungicide programs for tees, greens and fairways.
Those in attendance shared their findings, learned about research being conducted by their colleagues and came away information to help them further their research endeavors.
The first seminar of this nature, held in 1994 in Cleveland, Ohio, started as a summer bentgrass decline forum. Over time, the meeting evolved into a more academically focused seminar, allowing researchers to hit on a variety of current topics each year. The seminar has become a favorite annual event of turfgrass disease researchers and plant pathologists.