Method of controlling phytopathogenic diseases on turfgrass

1. A method for controlling or suppressing bacterial wilt in cool-season turfgrass, comprising applying to the cool-season turfgrass or to the locus of the cool-season turfgrass, a turf quality improving non-phytotoxic amount of acibenzolar-S-methyl applied at a rate of from 4 to 20 g/ha.

2. The method of claim 1 , wherein the acibenzolar-S-methyl is applied pre-bacterial wilt or under low to moderate bacterial wilt conditions.

3. The method of claim 1 , which further comprises application of chlorothalonil.

4. The method of claim 1 , wherein acibenzolar-S-methyl is applied simultaneously together, separately, or in succession with other active ingredients.

5. The method of claim 1 , using a composition comprising acibenzolar-S-methyl.

6. The method of claim 5 , wherein the composition further comprises adjuvants, solvents, carrier, surfactants or extenders.

7. The method according to claim 6 , wherein the composition comprises from 0.01 to 90% by weight of the acibenzolar-S-methyl, from 10 to 99.99% of a carrier and from 0 to 20% of a surfactant.

8. The method of claim 1 , wherein acibenzolar-S-methyl is applied at the rate of from 5 to 16 g/ha.

9. The method of claim 1 , wherein acibenzolar-S-methyl is applied at intervals of from 5 to 21 days, either pre-bacterial wilt or under low to moderate bacterial wilt conditions, during the turf growing season.

10. The method of claim 9 , wherein 6 to 8 applications of acibenzolar-S-methyl is applied at intervals of from 7 to 14 days.

11. The method according to claim 1 , wherein the turfgrass is an annual or perennial Gramineae belonging to at least one of the genera Agropyron, Agrostis, Axonopus, Bromus, Buchloe, Cynodon, Eremochloa, Festuca, Lolium, Paspulum, Pennisetum, Phleum, Poa, Stenotaphrum or Zoysia.

12. The method according to claim 1 , wherein the bacterial wilt is caused by Acidovorax spp. or Xanthomonas spp.