Fine fescue species vary in their susceptibility to snow molds

Abstract

Fine fescues are a group of turfgrass species that are often planted when low-input maintenance is desired. The five species most commonly associated with the fine fescues are strong creeping red fescue, slender creeping red fescue, Chewings fescue, sheep fescue, and hard fescue. Little is known about the resistance of fine fescues to snow mold diseases despite the widespread adoption of fine fescues across temperate climates with harsh winters. Field and controlled environment trials were conducted in Wisconsin and New Jersey between 2014 and 2017 to assess snow mold resistance among the fine fescues. In both the field and controlled environment, hard and sheep fescue were among the most resistant to snow molds and Chewings fescue was the most susceptible. However, significant variation existed among the cultivars within each species, suggesting that opportunities exist for breeding to improve resistance to snow mold in the fine fescues.