Sugarcane Mosaic Virus in St Augustine Grass

Photo from Phil Harmon EDIS #PP313

Here is a disease that has been showing up lately in our local area (Pinellas County) and growers should be aware of.  Mosaic disease of St. Augustinegrass was first reported in the 1960s in sugarcane producing areas of Palm Beach County, Florida. In September 2013, an outbreak of the disease occurred in Pinellas County. Leaf symptoms included mosaic, but turned necrotic and the severe dieback that completely killed some infected lawns.  Previously infected lawns as well as new ones started dying in both Pinellas and Palm Beach Counties. As of November 2014, all samples have tested positive for presence of Sugarcane Mosaic Virus. This 3-page fact sheet was written by Phil Harmon, and published by the UF Department of Plant Pathology, November 2014.  Here is a link to the factsheet.  http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/pp313

If you are a sod producer and suspect that this might be happening in your production field let your local Extension Agent know.