Pink patch

Irregular pink-tinged patches with a pink-to-reddish film on infected leaves. Distinguished from red thread by the absence of thread-like stroma at leaf tips and the cottony arthroconidia flocks.

The symptoms of Pink Patch include circular or irregularly shaped patches on the turf, ranging in size from a few inches to a foot in diameter. The patches are characterized by a pink, gelatinous growth of fungal mycelium on the leaves, which gives them a slimy texture. The affected leaves turn straw brown or tan in color and may appear wilted or diseased.

Signs include the presence of pink, cotton-candy like flocks of fungal mycelium on the leaves of the affected turfgrass. The mycelium also has clamp connections, which can be used to distinguish it from the red thread pathogen. These signs are visible on the leaves of the affected turfgrass and can be used to confirm the presence of pink patch.

This fungus is a member of the family Saccharomycetaceae and is able to grow on a variety of substrates including grass clippings, thatch, and soil. The fungus produces hyphae, which are the vegetative growth structure of the fungus, and can also produce dark, pigmented microsclerotia. These microsclerotia are survival structures that can persist in the soil for long periods of time and are thought to play a role in the ability of the fungus to survive and cause disease in turfgrass.

Pink patch is caused by the fungus Limonomyces roseipellis and affects both warm- and cool-season turfgrasses. It typically occurs during cool and moderate temperatures in the spring and fall when temperatures range between 68-82°F and there is adequate surface moisture present. The disease is most severe on poorly drained soils and in shaded areas. It is often found in low-maintenance turf such as athletic fields, cemeteries, and golf course roughs.