Dr. Peter Dernoeden Professor Email: pd@umd.edu Office: 1112 H.J. Patterson Hall Phone: 301.405.1337 Fax: 301.314.9041

Education and Experience:

• B.S. in Horticulture from Colorado State University, Fort Collins, CO, 1970.
• M.S. in Turfgrass Science from Colorado State University, Fort Collins, CO, 1976.
• Ph.D. in Plant Pathology from the University of Rhode Island, Kingston, RI, 1980.

Area of Specialization:

Primary duties include the design and performance of basic and applied turfgrass research programs and extension activities. Dr. Dernoeden teaches Pest Management Strategies For Turfgrasses (PLSC 401) and advises graduate students.

Applied research efforts have been directed towards weed and disease control, and the development of integrated pest management strategies in turf. Basic research efforts have concentrated on the etiology of turfgrass diseases; the influence of fertility and other cultural practices on disease severity and weed encroachment; the non-target effects of fungicides; fungicide effectiveness as influenced by application timing, spray volume and rainfall; and weed biology. Dr. Dernoeden and his graduate students reported and/or described several diseases and/or pathogens not previously known to occur in the mid-Atlantic region including spring dead spot (Ophiosphaerella korrae); necrotic ring spot (O. korrae); Pythium induced root dysfunction (Pythium spp) and take all (Gaeumannomyces graminis var. avenae). He discovered bentgrass dead spot and with co-workers described the pathogen (Ophiosphaerella agrostis ) through morphological and molecular methods. Graduate research advisory efforts have involved disease forecast modeling; weed seed germination degree day modeling; exploring a molecular technique (RAPD-PCR) for identifying turfgrass root pathogens; epidemiology and biology of Ophiosphaerella agrostis and Rhizoctonia solani; taxonomy of Pythium spp. inciting root dysfunction; developing fermentation and delivery technologies for evaluating biological disease control agents; and the study of soil microbial interactions with disease and other properties of the turfgrass ecosystem. Recent graduate research efforts have been devoted to dollar spot (Sclerotinia homoeocarpa), the most economically important disease of turfgrasses. Graduate students have identified cultural approaches to dollar spot management; studied the impact of simulated rain, mowing, water volume and application timing of fungicides targeting dollar spot; and launched field studies to identify environmental factors that trigger dollar spot epidemics.  Additionally, he pioneered the use of fine leaf fescues for use in low maintenance and naturalized areas in the region. Dr. Dernoeden also coordinated a post doctorate associate project, which investigated rooting and carbohydrate metabolism in creeping bentgrass as influenced by summer irrigation and coring. Along with graduate students and post - docs, Dr. Dernoeden has conducted hundreds field evaluations of herbicides, fungicides and plant growth regulators.

Extension duties include writing educational materials on turfgrass management; arranging and speaking at educational conferences; assists in providing  laboratory disease diagnostic services (coordinated the turfgrass disease diagnostic laboratory from 1980-2007); trouble-shooting through on-site visits; serving as technical advisor to several state turfgrass organizations including the Maryland Turfgrass Council; performing numerous demonstration experiments; and coordinating field days. In addition to in-state service, I participate at a professional level in extension education meetings throughout the U.S. and internationally.

Current Research Projects:

• Integrated Turfgrass Management For Environmental Enhancement and Resource Conservation.

Research including the biology of Rhizoctonia solani, cultural management of brown patch and development of a brown patch warning model were completed. http://www.agnr.umd.edu/maes_exe/dividends/dernoed1.pdf

• Turfgrass Pathology

The objectives of turfgrass pathology research program include: describing the etiology of new or imperfectly understood diseases; identify cultural and chemical approaches to managing turf diseases, and improving the performance of fungicides. Titles of recent projects include: "Dollar spot and gray leaf spot severity as influenced by irrigation practice and disease management with plant protection materials;" "Biology of Ophiosphaerella agrostis, epidemiology of dead spot and a molecular description of the pathogen;" "Influence of rain and mowing on fungicide performance when targeting dollar spot in fairway bentgrass;" and "Relationships between cultural and chemical practices on the incidence of yellow spot in bentgrass.

• Turfgrass Weed Science

The objectives of this program are to study the biology of weed seedling emergence in turfgrass sites and to evaluate herbicides for weed control. Titles of recent projects include: "Seasonal emergence patterns of Poa annua in Maryland;" "Creeping bentgrass tolerance and annual bluegrass control with bispyribac-sodium tank mixed with iron and nitrogen;" "Bentgrass seedling tolerance to herbicides and pacloburtazol;" "Selective control of creeping bentgrass in tall fescue;" and "Evaluation of new herbicides that target yellow nutsedge."

• Turfgrass Physiology

There are two major projects in this area as follows: "Rooting and carbohydrate metabolism in creeping bentgrass putting green turf in response to summer irrigation and aerification" and "Management of the summer bentgrass decline complex." The former project evaluates physiological process and rooting in bentgrass grown in a sand-based rootzone in response to two irrigation management and aerification programs. It employees the minirhizitron imaging technique, which allows for the in situ quantification of rooting parameters without destruction of the plants. The later project evaluates the influence of plant protection chemicals on bentgrass performance as influenced by photosynethesis, respiration, and canopy temperature during periods of environmental stress.

Courses:

• PLSC401: Pest Management Strategies for Turfgrass

Current Graduate Students:

• Raymond Pigati
• Christopher Ryan
  

Publications:

Books

• Smiley, R.W., P.H. Dernoeden and B.B. Clarke. 2005. Compendium of Turfgrass Diseases, Third Edition. The American Phytopathological Society, St. Paul MN.
  
• Dernoeden, P.H. 2002. Creeping Bentgrass Management: Summer Stresses, Weeds and Selected Maladies. John Wiley & Son, Hoboken, NJ..
  
• Watschke, T.L., P.H., Dernoeden, and D. Shetlar. 1995. Managing Turfgrass Pests. Lewis Publishers, Boca Raton FL.

Chapters in Books

• Dernoeden, P.H. 1994. Managing cool-season lawn grasses to minimize disease severity. p. 405-408. In A.R. Leslie Handbook of Integrated Pest Management for Turfgrass and Ornamentals. Lewis Publishers, Ann Arbor, MI.
  
• Dernoeden, P.H. 1994. Symptomatology and management of common turfgrass in transition zone and northern regions. p. 249-263. In A.R. Leslie Handbook of Integrated Pest Management for Turfgrass and Ornamentals. Lewis Publishers, Ann Arbor, MI.
  
• Dernoeden, P.H. 1993. Integrating strategies for the management of patch diseases caused by root invading ectotrophic fungi. p. 123-161. In B.B. Clarke and A.G. Gould Turfgrass Patch Disease Caused by Ectotrophic Root Infecting Fungi. American Phytopathology, St. Paul, MN.
  
• Dernoeden, P.H. 1989. Turfgrass rooting as influenced by herbicides and plant growth regulators. p. 331-333. In McGraw-Hill Yearbook of Science and Technology. , New York.
  
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Selected Publications

• Fu J. and P.H. Dernoeden. 2009. Rooting in a creeping bentgrass green in response to two irrigation practices. Crop Science (In press).
  
• Fu, J. and P.H. Dernoeden. 2009. Creeping bentgrass quality, chlorophyll content, canopy temperature and thatch-mat accumulation in response to summer irrigation. Crop Science (In press).
  
• Fu, J and P.H. Dernoeden. 2008. Carbohydrate metabolism in creeping bentgrass as influenced by two irrigation practices. J. Amer. Soc. Hort. Sci. 133: 678-683.
  
• Dernoeden, P.H., J.E. Kaminski, and J. Fu. 2008. Selective creeping bentgrass control in Kentucky bluegrass and tall fescue with mesotrione and triclopyr ester. HortScience 43: 509-513.
  
• Dernoeden, P.H., J.E. Kaminski and S.J. McDonald. 2008. Creeping bentgrass and perennial ryegrass seedling tolerance to bispyribac-sodium. HortScience 43: (In press).
  
• Kaminski, J.E. and P.H. Dernoeden. 2007. Seasonal Poa annua L. emergence patterns in Maryland. Crop Science 47:773-779.
  
• Kaminski, J.E., P.H. Dernoeden, and M.A. Fidanza. 2007. Environmental monitoring and exploratory development of a predictive mode for dead spot in creeping bentgrass. Plant Disease 91:565-573.
  
• Kaminski, J.E. and P.H. Dernoeden 2006. Severity of dead spot, pseudothecia development and overwintering of Ophiospharella agrositis in creeping bentgrass. Phytopathology 96: 248-254.
  
• McDonald, S.J., P.H. Dernoeden and C.A. Bigelow. 2006. Dollar spot and gray leaf spot severity as influenced by irrigation, pacloburtrazol, chlorothalonil and a wetting agent. Crop Sci. 46: 2675-2684.
  
• Kaminski, J.E., P.H. Dernoeden and N.R. O'Neil. 2005. Environmental influences on the release of Ophiosphaerella agrostis ascospores under controlled and field conditions. Phytopathology 95:135-1362.
  
• Dernoeden, P.H., C.A. Bigelow, J.E. Kaminski, and J.M. Krouse. 2003. Smooth crabgrass control in perennial ryegrass and creeping bentgrass tolerance to quinclorac. HortScience 38:607-612.
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• Davis, J.G., and P.H. Dernoeden. 2002. Dollar spot severity, tissue nitrogen, and soil microbial activity in bentgrass as influenced by nitrogen source. Crop Science 42:480-488.
  
• Kaminski, J.E. and P.H. Dernoeden. 2002. Geographic distribution, cultivar susceptibility, and field observations on bentgrass dead spot. Plant Disease 86:1253-1259.
  
• Kaminski, J.E. P.H. Dernoeden, N.R. O'Neill and B. Momen. 2002. Reactivation of bentgrass dead spot and growth, pseudothecia production and ascospore germination of Ophiosphaerella agrostis. Plant Disease 86:1290-1296.
  
• Davis, J.G., and P.H. Dernoeden. 2001. Fermentation and delivery of Pseudomonas aureofaciens to bentgrass affected by dollar spot and brown patch. Intern. Turfgrass Soc. Res. J. 9:655-664.
  
• Camara, M.P.S., N.R. O'Neill, P. Van Berkum, P.H. Dernoeden, and M. E. Palm. 2000. Ophiosphaerella agrostis sp. nov. and its relationships to other species of Ophiosphaerella. Mycologia 92:317-325.
  
• Dernoeden, P.H., N.R. O'Neill, M.P.S. Câmara, and Y. Feng. 1999. A new disease of Agrostis palustris incited by an undescribed species of Ophiosphaerella. Plant Disease: 83:397.
  
• Feng, Y., and P.H. Dernoeden. 1999. Pythium species associated with root dysfunction of creeping bentgrass in Maryland. Plant Disease 83:516-520.
  
• Dernoeden, P.H., M.J. Carroll, and J.M. Krouse. 1994. Mowing of three fescue species for low-maintenance turf sites. Crop Science 34:1645-1649.
  

Awards and Honors:

• Fellow of the American Society of Agronomy
• Fellow of the Crop Science Society of America
• Fred V. Grau Turfgrass Science Award, Crop Science Society of America
• Outstanding Researcher Award, Northeastern Weed Science Society