Fairy Ring

Causal Agent: Basidiomycetes in the order Agaricales are capable of causing Fairy Rings.
The most common ones in Australia are; Lycoperdon; Marasmius; Tricholoma; however there are over 50 causal agents of this fungus.

Susceptible Turfgrasses: Occurs in all turfgrasses.

Symptoms

• Fairy Ring symptoms vary with causal agents (fungal species).

• Circular or arc shaped rings of darker or faster-growing turf appears in moist turf.

• A concentric ring of dead grass may develop inside the circle of lush grass.

• The size of the rings can vary from a few centimetres to indefinitely large.

• Activity in the turf stops when the individual rings come into contact with each other.

• Mushrooms or toadstools may be produced in the outer ring of lush growth.

• As mycelium grows the soil becomes hydrophobic.

• In a mature Fairy Ring, the outer ring of lush grass may be missing, leaving an outer ring of plant death and an inner ring of green turf.

Conditions Favouring Disease

• Fairy Rings are more severe on light soils, which have low fertility and low moisture content.

• Turf with a significant thatch layer.

• Drier areas have significantly more Fairy Rings than higher rainfall areas.

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