Necrotic ring spot symptoms may be confused with summer patch and which other disease?

• A. Fairy ring
• B. Brown patch
• C. Dollar spot
• D. Slime mold

Answer: (A)

Circular ring patterns in turfgrass diseases can be easy to confuse. Necrotic ring spot creates rings or bands of necrotic tissue that often form circular patches, which can look similar to the rings seen with summer patch. The other disease that can be mistaken for it is fairy ring, because fairy ring also produces a circular band in the turf. The key difference is that fairy ring typically shows visible fungal growth, such as mushrooms or a white mycelial mat outlining the ring, whereas necrotic ring spot shows necrosis without those fruiting bodies. So when you see a ring pattern, check for mushroom fruiting bodies to distinguish fairy ring from necrotic ring spot; if no fungi are visible and the tissue is necrotic rather than actively growing, necrotic ring spot is the likely culprit.