Pythium Snow Blight of Kentucky Bluegrass Turf in a Golf Course in Hokkaido, Japan

Abstract

Severe Pythium snow blight was found on Kentucky bluegrass turf in a golf course fairway in mid-eastern Hokkaido, Japan. The pathogen was identified as Pythium iwayamai based on morphology, growth temperature relations and sequence of the rDNA internal transcribed spacer gene. Pathogenicity to the host plant was confirmed by pot inoculation tests.