Which symptom distinguishes dollar spot from brown patch?

• A. Dollar spot shows tiny tan spots with a boat-shaped lesion and a yellow halo; brown patch shows large patches with ring of unhealthy tissue.
• B. Brown patch shows yellow halo.
• C. Dollar spot shows galled roots.
• D. Brown patch shows stippling.

Answer: (A)

Distinguishing these diseases comes down to the size and edge of the spots on the turf leaves. Dollar spot appears as small tan spots on the leaf blades, and a hallmark is the boat-shaped lesion often surrounded by a narrow yellow halo. Brown patch forms much larger patches that expand across the turf, with a ring of unhealthy tissue at the outer edge as the patch grows. The other options don’t fit these patterns—dollar spot is not known for root galls, and stippling isn’t a typical feature of brown patch. Recognizing the small, haloed lesions versus large expanding patches helps you identify which disease is present and choose appropriate management actions.