Pythium blight is most likely to develop under which set of conditions?

Pythium blight is most likely to develop under which set of conditions?

• A. Hot, dry conditions.
• B. Cool, wet conditions.
• C. Warm, windy conditions.
• D. Cold, dry conditions.

Answer: (B)

Pythium blight needs prolonged leaf surface moisture to infect and spread. The pathogens are water molds that move through and infect via thin water films on the turf blades. Cool, wet conditions create long leaf wetness periods—dew, rainfall, and irrigation keep the turf blades continuously moist—which allows zoospores to germinate and aggressively infect tissue. In hot, dry, or windy weather, moisture dries quickly, shortening infection windows and reducing disease development. So cool and wet conditions provide the right environment for this disease to thrive and spread.

Pythium blight needs prolonged leaf surface moisture to infect and spread. The pathogens are water molds that move through and infect via thin water films on the turf blades. Cool, wet conditions create long leaf wetness periods—dew, rainfall, and irrigation keep the turf blades continuously moist—which allows zoospores to germinate and aggressively infect tissue. In hot, dry, or windy weather, moisture dries quickly, shortening infection windows and reducing disease development. So cool and wet conditions provide the right environment for this disease to thrive and spread.