Home field advantage: Beneficial bacteria could protect turfgrass from damaging disease

Sports leagues from the pros on down use turfgrass because it's a hearty grass that can be mowed to exceedingly short heights and tolerates trampling foot traffic with ease. 

But it does have a shortcoming: Turfgrass is vulnerable to a pathogen called dollar spot.

UD researchers Harsh Bais and Erik Ervin and doctoral student Charanpreet Kaur are part of a team studying the beneficial properties of UD1022, a UD-patented beneficial bacteria, to see whether it can be effective in protecting turfgrass. 

Left unchecked, dollar spot can result in huge economic losses for golf courses and other places where turfgrass must be managed and protected.

Known as a growth promoter that can help plants flourish, the hope is that UD1022 can be a green alternative to complement existing turf-management processes already in use.

Bais, a professor of plant and soil sciences, is available for interviews and can be contacted by clicking on his profile below this photo or via his ExpertFile profile.