Monthly Change of Population of Curvularia spp. in a Benthrass Green and a Statistical Analysis of Correlation between the Population Change and Several Climatic Factors^*

Abstract

Curvularia spp. were isolated monthly from sods obtained from a bentgrass turf of a golf course by a direct isolation menthod and a dilution plate method. By both methods Curvularia spp. were isolated most frequently from thatch. Monthly fluctuation patterns of frequencies of the fungus isolated by both methods were not identical, suggesting that ecological study of soil-borne fungi should be done using at least two isolation methods. Statistical analysis revealed that the number of Curvularia spp. I) increased in leaves and stems of the grass and thatch when temperature was elevated, II) increased in roots when temperature de-creased, and III) increased in leaves and stems when precipitation decreased. Results indicated that Curvularia spp. inhabiting in bentgrass greens might be a possible inoculum source of Curvularia leaf blight in Zoysia greens and fairways.