In this episode of Turfgrass Epistemology, I discuss the peer-reviewed article “Dollar Spot Resistance among Blends of Creeping Bentgrass Cultivars” by Abernathy et al. (2001), published in Crop Science.
This study evaluates whether blending creeping bentgrass cultivars can reduce dollar spot severity compared to monostands on golf course putting greens. I explain how highly susceptible cultivars like Crenshaw increased disease pressure in blends, how resistant cultivars like L-93 suppressed dollar spot, and why overall disease levels in blends often reflected a compromise between the resistance levels of the individual components.
The key takeaway: blending resistant and susceptible cultivars can significantly reduce dollar spot compared to planting a susceptible cultivar alone—but blends do not automatically create superior resistance across the board.
If you manage creeping bentgrass putting greens or make decisions about cultivar selection, genetic diversity, and dollar spot management, this video breaks down what the data actually show and how blending fits into an evidence-based disease management strategy.
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