Golfdom, November 2017

RESEARCH FOR REAL SUPERINTENDENTS Hosted by Clark Throssell Ph D clarkthrossell@ bresnan net Super Science LIVING IN THE LIVING ACRES MONARCH BUTTERFLIES OF THE LINKS By Renee J Keese Ph D M onarch butterfly populations have been declining in the United States since the late 1990s One of many factors contributing to the decline is the shrinking number of milkweed plants which are critical to their reproduction cycle The monarch migration starts in central Mexico and moves north in February through the central and eastern parts of the United States Migrating monarchs require milkweed plants for females to lay eggs and for food for the hatching larvae or next generation The vast majority of monarch butterfly reproduction occurs in the northern central region of the United States Two to three generations of butterflies will procreate during the summer By mid to late August the northern migration ends and monarchs begin their southern migration returning to their winter roosting site by late autumn In 2015 BASF launched a biodiversity research initiative called Living Acres Monarch Challenge focused on helping increase the monarch butterfly population by establishing milkweed in non crop areas The research conducted on the BASF Research Farm in Holly Springs N C provides best practices for establishing and maintaining the plants in non production areas Because major stretches of golf courses lie within the monarchs migration path opportunities exist to create new monarch habitats in native or low traffic areas on the course In the spring of 2017 Lonnie Poole Golf Course located at North Carolina State University in Raleigh partnered with BASF Living Acres to plant approximately 750 milkweed plants and wildflowers in 15 native areas around the course to provide food and habitat for monarch reproduction Volunteers including BASF employees assisted with planting these plots and later released newly emerged monarchs onto the golf course As a Certified Silver Audubon Signature Course Lonnie Poole GC is in an ideal location It is committed to preserving the native habitat and its a model for the first of what may become many Monarch Challenge courses More golf courses can take part in the Monarch Challenge To learn more about Living Acres and to download a brochure visit agro basf us sustainability Renee J Keese Ph D is BASF Biology Project Leader Turf and Ornamentals NEWS UPDATES UNIVERSITY OF ILLINOIS SHARES PRELIMINARY RESEARCH ON NEMATODES AND HOLGANIX The University of Illinois at Urbana Champaign recently released preliminary results from its research on nematode suppression with Holganix While studies are still ongoing preliminary results have shown a 75 percent reduction in pathogenic nematodes with Holganix technology in a lab setting and a 50 percent reduction in pathogenic nematodes in a field setting according to Holganix When specific to tomatoes and the root knot nematode Kris Lambert Ph D associate professor at the University of Illinois School of Crop Sciences reports that he has seen zero root knot nematodes in Holganix technologytreated tomato plants Lambert will need to replicate both the lab and field trials before drawing conclusive results regarding the effect mechanism and application of Holganix technology when used as a treatment against pathogenic nematodes according to a press release The company says it decided to invest in research to better understand the benefits of Holganix technology on pathogenic nematodes after some Florida superintendents reported positive results while using Holganix Golf Today Holganix does not offer a registered nematicide product and results on Holganix technologys influence over pathogenic nematodes are still pending THIS INDICATES THE NEED FOR CONTROLLING ANNUAL BLUEGRASS EARLY IN THE LIFE OF A FAIRWAY BEFORE POPULATIONS BECOME EXCESSIVE Matt Sousek see story on page 28 November 2017 Golfdom 27 Golfdom com PHOTO COURTESY OF BASF The Monarch Challenge aims to increase the monarch population by planting milkweed