Explanation should include distinguishing the cause of poor plant health by observing
- the appearance of the plant (e.g., plant color, stunting, wilt)
- plant symptoms (e.g., chlorosis, flecking, damping-off)
- signs (e.g., tracks, bite marks, chemical residue, frass) of the causal agent, such as
- biotic
- animals
- bacteria
- fungi
- insects
- mites
- nematodes
- parasitic plants
- protozoa
- viruses
- abiotic
- air pollution
- compaction
- cultural practices
- drought
- excess soil moisture
- limited light
- mechanical damage
- nutrient imbalances
- pesticide toxicity
- reduced oxygen availability
- soil pH extremes
- temperature extremes.
Process/Skill Questions:
- What is damping-off, and what are the possible causes?
- What is stunting, and what are the causes?
- What causes honeydew on plants, and what are possible treatments?
- What are some common bacterial diseases for transitional zone turfgrass?
- What are some abiotic issues with turfgrass in the transitional zone?
- How can turfgrass diseases be minimized without the use of pesticides?