Acervuli are produced readily on infected leaf blades and sheaths, but are not common in infected crown tissues. Anthracnose is favored by environmental stresses, which probably enhance plant susceptibility to infection. Common stresses associated with anthracnose include high temperatures, dry soil conditions, and low NPK fertility. Although low soil moisture appears to predispose plants to infection, a period of leaf wetness is required for the spores to infect plant tissues. How these variables interact determines whether the disease is most severe in the highest or lowest areas of the green.
Stress reduction is the first line of defense against anthracnose.
Nevertheless, maintaining conditions of moderate fertility using a complete fertilizer, adequate soil moisture, and good drainage can help in reducing the severity of the disease. Avoid irrigation in late afternoon or evening hours. Using lightweight mowing equipment may also help by alleviating compaction. Where there is a history of the disease, fungicides can have a dramatic impact on disease development. Timing of fungicide applications is probably critical.