Disease Note.

Occurrence of Melanotus White Patch on Red and Chewings Fescue. Robert L. Wick, University of Massachusetts Suburban Experiment Station, Waltham, MA 02154. . Plant Dis. 72:268. Accepted for publication 18 November 1987. Copyright 1988 The American Phytopathological Society. DOI: 10.1094/PD-72-0268C.

White patch caused by Melanotus philiipsii (Berk. & Br.) Singer has previously noted only on tall fescue (Festuca arundinacea Schreb.) During the summer of 1982, several cases of white patch were observed on tall fescue, red fescue (F. rubra L.) and the Chewings fescue F r. var. commuata Gaud.) in Prince William, Carroll, Wise, and Lynchburg counties of Virginia. Patches of affected grass were white and roughly circular and eventually coalesced into large areas of blighted turf. The bleached or white appearance of affected leaves was due to colonization by the fungus. Sporocarps were white to off-white, 1.8-5.2 mm in diameter, and frequently several to a leaf blade. Stipes were recurved, central to eccentric, and 0.4-1.0 mm long. The fungus produced sporocarps when cultured on malt extract agar.