Which statement about leaf wetness and disease risk is correct?

Which statement about leaf wetness and disease risk is correct?

• A. Higher leaf wetness increases disease risk.
• B. Leaf wetness reduces disease risk.
• C. Leaf wetness has no relation to disease.
• D. Leaf wetness only affects mowing.

Answer: (A)

Leaf wetness on turf leaves directly influences disease risk. Many turf pathogens, including fungi and oomycetes, require a film of free water on the leaf surface to germinate and penetrate the tissue. The longer leaves stay wet after dew, rain, or overhead irrigation, the more opportunities the pathogens have to infect, especially under warm, humid conditions. So increasing leaf wetness raises the likelihood and potential severity of foliar diseases. The other statements don’t fit because reducing leaf moisture doesn’t promote disease, leaf wetness is indeed related to disease risk, and moisture on leaves is not limited to mowing scenarios.

Leaf wetness on turf leaves directly influences disease risk. Many turf pathogens, including fungi and oomycetes, require a film of free water on the leaf surface to germinate and penetrate the tissue. The longer leaves stay wet after dew, rain, or overhead irrigation, the more opportunities the pathogens have to infect, especially under warm, humid conditions. So increasing leaf wetness raises the likelihood and potential severity of foliar diseases. The other statements don’t fit because reducing leaf moisture doesn’t promote disease, leaf wetness is indeed related to disease risk, and moisture on leaves is not limited to mowing scenarios.