Research Program

Our program focuses on etiology, epidemiology, and management of turfgrass diseases. With an economic value of 1 billion dollars annually, 1.2 million acres, and over 50,000 Wisconsin residents employed in the turf industry, it is clear that turfgrass industry is very important to the state. The turfgrass industry is very dynamic and management practices change frequently, therefore we remain flexible in our research interests in order to respond to the needs of the industry. Specifically, we conduct research in laboratory, greenhouse, growth chamber, and field environments focusing on, but limited to, three important diseases of turfgrasses in Wisconsin- dollar spot, anthracnose, and snow mold. Current projects include the degradation of snow mold fungicides in response to snow cover, determination of the optimal infection temperatures for the dollar spot pathogen, and screening native grasses for resistance to pink and gray snow molds.

Furthermore, I am also the Extension Turfgrass Pathologist for the state of Wisconsin. The goal of the extension program is to help turfgrass managers incorporate the programs research results into sound management practices. My extension efforts focus on educating turfgrass managers on identifying disease problems, employing control measures that are efficacious, cost-effective, and environmentally sound, and managing fungicide resistance. This is done primarily through grower meetings and field days, but we also use a variety of multimedia approaches to accomplish our goals. My extension program is also responsible for diagnosis of turfgrass disease, which is facilitated through the Turfgrass Diagnostic Laboratory at the OJ Noer Turfgrass Research Facility. Finally I am also the lead instructor in the Wisconsin Pesticide Applicator Training Program for turfgrass professionals.

Current Lab Members:

Selected Recent Publications

Kerns, J.P. and Tredway, L.P. 200_. Pythium Root Dysfunction of Creeping Bentgrass. Plant Health Progress. (Accepted pending revisions).

Kerns, J.P., Soika, M.D., Tredway, L.P. 2009. Preventive control of Pythium root dysfunction in creeping bentgrass putting greens and sensitivity of Pythium volutum to fungicides. Plant Dis. 93 (In Press).

Koch, P, J.C. Stier, and J.P. Kerns. 2009. Spring Time Fungicide Applications Delay and Reduce Dollar Spot Disease of Turfgrass. Int. Turfgrass Soc. Res. J. 11. (In Press).

Kerns, J.P., H.D. Shew, D.M. Benson, and L.P. Tredway. 2009 Impact of irrigation frequency, organic matter content, and creeping bentgrass cultivar on the development of Pythium root dysfunction. Int. Turfgrass Soc. Res. J. 11. (In Press).

Kerns, J.P. and L.P. Tredway. 2008. Influence of temperature on pathogenicity of Pythium volutum toward creeping bentgrass. Plant Dis. 92: 1669-1673.

Kerns, J.P. and L.P. Tredway. 2008. Pathogenicity of Pythium Species Associated with Pythium Root Dysfunction of Creeping Bentgrass and Their Impact on Root Growth and Survival. Plant Dis. 92:862-869. [ PDF ]

Kerns, J.P. and L.P. Tredway. 2007. First Report of Pythium Root Dysfunction of Creeping Bentgrass Caused by Pythium volutum in North Carolina. Plant Dis. 91:632. [ abstract ]