Snow molds are caused by multiple fungal species: grey snow mold, speckled snow mold and pink snow mold. Length of snow cover is one of the key environmental parameters for each snow mold species to adapt and thrive. Speckled snow mold likes a longer duration of of snow cover than grey snow mold, however, snow cover is not necessary for pink snow mold development (which is favored by cool and wet conditions).
The UMass Pathology Lab runs snow mold trials in the New England region, and New York, annually. This year (2022-2023) has two golf course sites with high disease pressure: Val Halla Golf & Recreation Center (Cumberland, ME) and Mount Washington Resort Golf Club (Bretton Woods, NH). This year’s trials have included a list of ‘alternative’ products, plus some pre-mixed fungicides for snow mold control; Extreme Green 20, Sulfur DF, Duraphite 12, potassium bicarbonate, Protone SG, ReTain, Rootshield Plus WP, Rhapsody, Civitas Pre Mixed, Primo MAXX, and Aneuw. This work is part of a USDA multistate grant.
At the Cumberland site the products (some of them at early and later application) were applied on November 3 and 9, respectively. Snow mold severity and turf quality were rated on March 30th. Snow mold pressure was as high as expected and caused mainly by grey snow mold. All of the ‘alternative’ products (listed above) performed similarly to the untreated control at this site, and ratings of the NH site are pending. Almost 100% snow mold control was shown in some of the mixed fungicide treatments. A few pictures capturing some of the treatments are below:
Submitted by: Dr. Geunhwa Jung
