The Turfgrass Pathology Laboratory at the University of California Riverside

Interests

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The focus of my research and extension program is the management of diseases of turf and landscape in California. Both are multi-billion dollar industries in California. We dedicate much of the program on turfgrass diseases, especially those caused by new and invasive pathogens. We have also had a large emphasis on diseases of landscape ornamentals affected by the bacteria, Xylella fastidosa.

Current projects in the lab include:

- Anthracnose (Colletotrichum cereale) control on annual bluegrass

- Population structure of gray leaf spot (Pyricularia grisea) affecting ryegrass and kikuyugrass

- Biology of Waitea circinata var circinata (Rhizoctonia circinata), a new disease of annual bluegrass

- Fungicide resistance development for anthracnose and gray leaf spot

- Characterization of Xylella fastidosa populations causing disease in urban landscapes

 

LINKS

The Turf Disease Diagnostic Lab Information

• The Latest California Disease Diagnosis Weekly Report

• Report Archives (under construction)

UCR Turf Program

UC Integrated Pest Management Guidelines for Turf Pests

UC Guide to Healthy Lawns

 

DOWNLOADABLE EXTENSION PRESENTATIONS

Fungicide Resistance for Common Golf Course Diseases (Turf Net Seminar April 7, 2009) (Turf Net Semina

Chemical Control of Turfgrass Anthracnose

Brown Ring (Waitea) Patch Management

2009 Progress Report for GCSAA Funded Research on Brown Ring Patch

Xylella Diseases in Southern California

Sampling for Bacterial Scorch and Dieback in Landscape Ornamentals

Rapid Blight in California: Diagnosis and Distribution. January 24, 2007. Cactus and Pine GCSA Rapid Blight Summit, Superstition Springs Golf Course, Mesa, AZ

ARTICLES ABOUT THE LAB

“California Turf Lab’s Services a Hit with Superintendents”. M. Lednovich, Golfweek’s Supernews June 24, 2005, pp. 17-19

“Turf Talk: A Second Opinion”. T. Carson, Golf Course Management, September 2005 73(9):28.

“Turf Professor Doubles as Course Weatherman” M. Lednovich, Golfweek’s Supernews, January 6, 2006, pp. 10 & 12.

“Turf Researchers Find Snow Mold on Maui Course” J. Rietman, Golfweek’s Supernews, May 17, 2006, pp. 7 & 9

"Cal Researcher Full of Surprises". Golf Course Management, June 2006.

"New Disease Lacks Name, Packs Punch." M. Lednovich, Golfweek’s Supernews, September 27, 2006, pp. 4 & 10.

"Taking the Heat." Grounds Maintenance. October 1, 2006.

 

PEOPLE IN THE WONG LAB

Left to Right:  

• Roni Garlington (B.S. Biological Sciences, UC Riverside, 2010) 

• Juanita Rios (B.S. Biology, UC Riverside, 2002) 

• Karla de la Cerda (B.S. Biological Sciences, Univ. Autonoma de Aguascalientes, Mexico, 1999) 

• Jim Hung (B.S. Biological Sciences, UC Riverside, 2008) 

• Chi-min Chen (Ph D. Plant Pathology, UC Riverside, 2011) 

• Frank Wong 

• Joey Young (M.S. Plant Pathology, Mississippi State Univ., 2008) 

• Erica Serna (B.A. Ethnic Studies, UC Riverside, 2010)

 

 

 

California Disease and Pest Images (A large gallery of images hosted by PACE Consulting)

Did I really just say that? An excerpt from Golf Week's Supernews about diagnosing the presence of Waitea circinata var circinata from annual bluegrass (Photo courtesy of Professor Mike Fidanza, Penn State University)

 

 

 

 

 

 

Publications

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SCIENTIFIC JOURNAL ARTICLES

• Wong, F. P. and Wilcox, W. F. 2000. Distribution of baseline sensitivities to azoxystrobin among isolates of Plasmopara viticola. Plant Disease 84:275-281.
• Wong, F. P. and Wilcox, W. F. 2001. Heterothallism in Plasmopara viticola. Plant Pathology 50:427-432.
• Wong, F. P. and Wilcox, W. F. 2001. Comparative physical modes of action of azoxystrobin, mancozeb and metalaxyl against grapevine downy mildew (Plasmopara viticola). Plant Disease 85:649-656.
• Wong, F. P. and Wilcox, W. F. 2002. Sensitivity to azoxystrobin among isolates of Uncinula necator: Baseline distribution and relationship to myclobutanil sensitivity. Plant Disease 86:394-404.
• Wong, F. P. ; Gelernter, W.; Stowell, L. and Tisserat, N. A. 2003. First report of Gaeumannomyces graminis var. graminis on kikuyugrass (Pennisetum clandestinum) in the United States. Plant Disease 87:600.
• Wong, F. P. ; Gelernter, W.; and Stowell, L. 2005. First Report of Pyricularia grisea Causing Gray Leaf Spot on Kikuyugrass (Pennisetum clandestinum) in the United States. Plant Disease 89:433, 2005
• Wong, F. P. and de la Cerda, K. A. 2006. First Report of Pyricularia grisea (Gray Leaf Spot) on Perennial Ryegrass (Lolium perenne) in Nevada. Plant Disease 90:683
• Hernandez-Martinez, Pinckard, T., Costa, H. S., Cooksey D. A., and Wong, F. P. 2006. Discovery and Characterization of Xylella fastidiosa Strains in Southern California Causing Mulberry Leaf Scorch. Plant Disease 90:1143-1149.
• Hernandez-Martinez, R., de la Cerda, K. A., Costa, H. S., Cooksey, D. A., and Wong, F. P. 2006. Phylogenetic relationships of Xylella fastidiosa strains isolated from ornamentals in southern California. Phytopathology XX.XXX
• de la Cerda, K. A., Douhan, G. W., and Wong, F. P. 2006. Discovery and Characterization of Waitea circinata var. circinata affecting Annual Bluegrass from the western United States. Plant Disease XX:XXX.

ABSTRACTS

• Wong, F. P. and W.F. Wilcox. 1998. Evaluation of chemical- and pathogen-induced resistance in Vitis vinifera against Plasmopara viticola. Phytopathology 88:S98.
• Wong, F. P. and W.F. Wilcox. 1998. Distribution of baseline sensitivities to azoxystrobin among isolates of Plasmopara viticola. Phytopathology 88:S98.
• Wong, F. P. and W.F. Wilcox. 1999. Physical modes of action of azoxystrobin against grapevine downy mildew (Plasmopara viticola). Phytopathology 89:S85.
• Wilcox, W.F., D.G. Riegel, F.P. Wong, L.E. Hoffman, J.E. Carroll, and J.A. Burr. 2000. Integrated control of fungal diseases in New York (USA) based upon sanitation, fungicide characteristics, resistance management, and host susceptibility factors. 5th International Symposium on Cool Climate Viticulture and Oenology, Adelaide, Australia.
• Wong, F. P., H.N. Burr, and W.F. Wilcox. 2000. Heterothallism in Plasmopara viticola (grapevine downy mildew). Phytopathology 90:S85.
• Wong, F. P., J.A. Burr, D.G. Riegel, and W.F. Wilcox. 2000. The relationship between sensitivities to azoxystrobin and myclobutanil among isolates of Uncinula necator. Phytopathology 90:S85.
• Scheidegger, K.A., F. P. Wong, J.S. Barnes, H.L. Ypema, and H.C. Wetzel. 2002. Baseline sensitivity distribution of Sclerotinia homoeocarpa (dollar spot) to the novel fungicide nicobifen (BAS 510 F). Phytopathology 92:S73.
• F. P. Wong. 2003. Past, current and future challenges for fungicide resistance management for turfgrass pathogens. Phytopathology 93:S114.
• F. P. Wong. 2003. Turfgrass anthracnose: An old disease causing new problems. Phytopathology 93:S111.
• F. P. Wong. 2003. Baseline sensitivity distribution of Colletotrichum graminicola (turfgrass anthracnose) to thiophanate-methyl and detection of resistance in California populations. Phytopathology 93:S91
• W. F. Wilcox, J. A. Burr and D. G. Riegel and F. P. Wong. 2003. Practical resistance to QoI fungicides in New York populations of Uncinula necator associated with quantitative shifts in pathogen sensitivities. Phytopathology 93:S90.
• F. P. Wong, W. F. Wilcox, J. A. Burr and D. G. Riegel. 2003. Baseline sensitivity distributions of Uncinula necator to boscalid and pyraclostrobin and field performance in New York. Phytopathology 93:S91
• R. Hernandez-Martinez, T. Pinckard, H. Costa,; D. Cooksey, and ; F. Wong. 2005. Isolation and characterization of Xylella fastidiosa strains from mulberry in southern California and inability to infect oleander and grape. Phytopathology 95:S41
• F. P. Wong. 2005. Q(o)I fungicide resistance: Turf. Phytopathology 95:S143.
• F. P. Wong, K. de la Cerda, S. Midland and R. Hernandez-Martinez. 2005. Benzimidazole resistance in California isolates of Colletotrichum graminicola is associated with E198K mutation in beta-tubulin 2. Phytopathology 95:S113
• K A. De la Cerda, K. L. Huryn, G. W. Douhan, W. Uddin, F. P. Wong. 2006. Genetic diversity of Pyricularia grisea isolates collected from perennial ryegrass and kikuyugrass in California and Nevada. Phytopathology 96:S28
• K A. De la Cerda, J. C. Rios, C. J. Nielsen, and F. P. Wong. 2006. Identification and characterization of Waitea circinata var circinata causing disease on annual bluegrass in the western U.S. Phytopathology 96:S28
• R. Hernandez-Martinez, H. S. Costa, D. A. Cooksey, and F. P. Wong. 2006. Leaf scorch in ornamental purple-leaf plum (Prunus cerasifera) in southern California caused by Xylella fastidiosa. Phytopathology 96:S47
• R. Hernandez-Martinez, H. S. Costa, D. A. Cooksey, and F. P. Wong. 2006. Sweet gum dieback in southern California caused by Xylella fastidiosa. Phytopathology 96:S47
• S. A. Mazurek and F. P. Wong. 2006. Baseline sensitivity distribution of Colletotrichum cereale (turfgrass anthracnose) to fludioxonil. Phytopathology 96:S74
• J. C. Rios, K. A. de la Cerda, and F. P. Wong. 2006. In vitro sensitivity of Waitea circinata var circinata to benzimidazole, carboxin, dicarboximide, QoI and SI-fungicides. Phytopathology 96:S97

FUNGICIDE AND NEMATICIDE TESTS

• Wilcox, W.F., Riegel, D. G., and Wong, F. P . 1999. Evaluation of fungicide programs for control of grapevine downy mildew. Fungicide and Nematicide Tests 54:111.
• Wong, F. P., Campbell, S., and Ries, S. B. 2003. Evaluation of fungicides for the control of dollar spot in southern California, 2002. Report 58:T026. APS Fungicide and Nematicide Tests 58 (online)

  California, 2002. Report 58:T026. APS Fungicide and Nematicide Tests 58 (online)
• Wong, F. P., Vilchez, M., and Ries, S. B. 2004. Evaluation of fungicides for the control of dollar spot in southern California 2003. Report 59:T043. APS Fungicide and Nematicide Tests 59 (online)
• McCullough, M. D., and Wong, F. P.. 2005. Evaluation of mid-season fungicide applications for the control of anthracnose on a mixed annual bluegrass and creeping bentgrass green in northern California, summer 2004. Report 60:T056. APS Fungicide and Nematicide Tests 60 (online)
• Wong, F. P., and Corza, J. R.. 2005. Control of summer patch and anthracnose on an annual bluegrass green in southern California, 2004. Report 60:T058. APS Fungicide and Nematicide Tests 60 (online)
• Wong, F. P., de la Cerda, K., and Ries, S. B. 2005. Evaluation of fungicides for the control of dollar spot in southern California, spring 2004. Report 60:T057. APS Fungicide and Nematicide Tests 60 (online)

TRADE PUBLICATIONS

• Wong F. P. 2004. Palm Tree Diseases and Disorders, Part I. Southwestern Trees and Turf 10(1):7.
• Wong F. P. 2004. Palm Tree Diseases and Disorders, Part II. Southwestern Trees and Turf 10(2):7.
• Wong, F. P. and Midland, S. 2004. Fungicide resistant anthracnose: bad news for greens management. Golf Course Management 72(6):75-80
• Wong, F. P.. Gray Leaf Spot disease. California Fairways, March-April, 2005
• Wong, F. P. Gray Leaf Spot in the West. 2006. Golf Course Management 74(5):97-101.