Executive Summary of Nutramax Research At Michigan State University

J.M. Vargas Jr., Professor

Macro-Sorb Foliar ^® and Summer Stress Syndrome

Summer stress syndrome has become a recognized problem with cool season grasses especially on putting greens maintained at low mowing heights. However, fairway turf can also suffer from this phenomenon. Summer stress syndrome is caused by several factors including: diseases, shade, soil compaction, photorespiration, and any other factor that causes stress to turf.

Two of these factors, shade and photorespiration, reduce the plants ability to produce or maintain adequate carbohydrates for optimum plant health. The lack of morning sun in July and August can severely affect the plant’s health. Cool season turfgrasses photosynthesize when the temperatures are below 85° F in July and August, which usually occurs early in the morning during those months. If the turfgrass plant does not receive morning sun, it can deplete its carbohydrate reserves quickly. Once the temperature rises above 85° F, photorespiration occurs which burns up the stored carbohydrates severely affecting the health of the plant.

The carbohydrates made during photosynthesis are used by the plant to make cell components, lipids, amino acids, and proteins (both structural and enzymatic). These enzymatic proteins are necessary for the plant to carry out any biological processes, and without them, the plant cannot photosynthesize, respire, or manufacture any products. Proteins are made of amino acids tied together by peptide bonds. When carbohydrates are lacking because of shade or photorespiration, the plant does not have adequate levels of amino acids to produce the proteins that are necessary for it to function properly.

One way to overcome this problem is to foliar feed turfgrass with biologically active L-amino acids. Our research has shown increased turfgrass quality by foliar feeding turfgrass amino acids with a product called Macro-Sorb® Foliar in combination with Daconil Ultrex. Macro-Sorb® Foliar contains the 18 essential amino acids necessary to produce protein and maintain healthy turfgrass. Attached are the results from our 2000 study with Macro-Sorb® Foliar in combination with Daconil Ultrex, and our 2000 and 2001 studies with Heritage for summer patch control

2000 Summer Stress Syndrome in Creeping Bentgrass
Treatments were applied every two weeks starting in June. Results were taken in the third week of August. The ratings are based on a 1 to 10 scale with 10 being the best.

2000 Summer Stress Syndrome in Poa annua.
Treatments were applied every two weeks starting in June and results were taken in the third week of August. The ratings are based on a 1 to 10 scale with 10 being the best.

Marco-Sorb® Foliar has also shown tendencies to increase the uptake of systemic fungicides thereby increasing their effectiveness and allowing for a reduction in the amount of fungicide necessary to manage the disease.