The Effect of Foliar Application of Oligogalacturonides on the Functional Value of Turfgrass

Abstract

Turf grasses play a crucial role in enhancing the beauty and usability of landscapes, gardens, parks, and sports facilities due to their functional and aesthetic properties. However, various unfavourable conditions, such as plant disorders and environmental pressures, can compromise their amenity value. Ongoing research aims to identify natural remedies that improve the quality and resilience of these grasses. A study was conducted at the Experimental Station of the Agricultural University of Krakow (50°07′ N, 20°05′ E) to evaluate the practical value of the turf produced by seeding of the ‘Super Lawn’ grass mixture. The experiment involved applying a spray containing oligogalacturonides at two doses: 1.0 and 2.0 dm³∙ha⁻¹, along with a commercial fungicide. The traits were analysed using a 9-point scale. Plants in variant III (treated with the higher dose of oligogalacturonides) and variant IV (treated with the commercial fungicide) exhibited the highest aesthetic and functional values. The application of oligogalacturonides and a commercial fungicide resulted in a decrease in plant diseases. The treatment area showed a reduction in pink snow mould (Microdochium nivale) and leaf spot incidence compared to the control area. Variant II showed enhanced outcomes with the application of 1.0 dm³∙ha⁻¹ of the preparation. In this area, the plant canopy had greater coverage, and the plants demonstrated increased resistance to pink snow mould and leaf spot compared to the plants in the control area. The use of commercial fungicide was found to be more effective than applying oligogalacturonides. Additionally, the plants that were protected with the fungicide displayed the highest values for the analysed parameters.

1. Introduction

Lawns play a significant role in of human life, serving a dual purpose of providing safety and influencing the aesthetic perception of space [1]. To ensure the quality of turf lawns, it is important to consider several measures and factors. These include mowing, fertilisation, soil aeration, weed control, pest control, disease prevention, traffic stress, nutrient management, and the choice of maintenance equipment [2]. In addition, as sports turf, they facilitate the healthy development of physical fitness [3]. Certain turf species that produce low biomass are highly valued for their aesthetic appeal [4]. With the increasing innovation policy in Europe [5], biopreparations are gaining importance [6,7,8,9]. These natural remedies enhance turfgrass disease resistance, stimulate growth and provide environmental protection [10,11]. Fungal diseases pose a significant challenge to turfgrass management. Fungal infections can damage the health and appearance of turfgrasses. These infections are caused by various fungal species. It is important to promptly notice and treat them to prevent significant damage over time. Early signs of infection may be subtle but require immediate attention to prevent any serious consequences. Pathogens thrive in damp and shaded environments [12]. The formation of a thatch layer may restrict the ability of grasses to absorb nutrients and oxygen, which exacerbates the issue. An investigation of lawn pathologies, including pink snow mould (Microdochium nivale), brown spot, and grass stem rust, illustrates the intricate and diverse challenges that horticulturists and turfgrass specialists encounter. The use of oligogalacturonides, natural plant polymers, represents a groundbreaking technique in the management of such afflictions [13].

Oligogalacturonides (OGs) are pectin fragments that are released by plant cell walls when they are attacked by insects or pathogens. They function as signals, indicating damage and triggering plant defence mechanisms at local and systemic levels [14].

Oligogalacturonides can significantly contribute to modulating turf resistance to fungal diseases due to their properties. In order to defend against pathogens effectively, plants must promptly recognize and activate the appropriate defence mechanisms that restrict the invasion and colonization by intruders. The plant innate immune system has a crucial capability to detect molecules signalling a potential threat. Microbe-associated molecular patterns (MAMPs), such as chitin derived from fungi, peptidoglycan and flagellin released from bacteria, or glucans found in the cell walls of nurse beetles, are recognised by plant cells, triggering an immune response [15,16]. Investigations into MAMP-induced immunity have become increasingly significant in the field of plant biology.

The response to internal cellular signals under stress or damage plays a critical role in the plant immune system. These molecules are widely studied due to their function in plant immune system signalling. When facing attacks by pathogens or exposure to abiotic stresses, plants release damage-associated molecular patterns (DAMPs)—molecules that stimulate a response to the damage [16,17,18,19,20]. Among these, OGs play a crucial role in inducing a range of defence mechanisms [21,22,23]. GIs are released from the cell walls upon infection [24] or mechanical damage [25], indicating evolutionarily adapted plant mechanisms. A PIMS system (pectin integrity monitoring system) has been suggested to maintain its integrity in plant cells [19], as it is sensitive to pathogens [26]. Inhibitors of enzymes that degrade HGA are essential components of this system. De Lorenzo et al. [27] and de Lorenzo and Ferrari have shown that these substances play a dual role in plant defence by safeguarding the cell wall and promoting GI accumulation, making them essential.

This research article aims to examine the potential impact of oligogalacturonides on turfgrass functionality and assess their effectiveness on disease severity compared to a commercial fungicide treatment. The increasing difficulties of lawn fungal diseases make this research essential for future lawn management strategies worldwide. The presented information on these diseases offers a crucial context for future research on the effectiveness of oligogalacturonides in preventing and controlling fungal infections in garden lawns.

2. Materials and Methods

2.1. Study Site

The study was carried out from 2020 to 2023 at the experimental station of the University of Agriculture, Cracow (50°07′ N, 20°05′ E—moderate warm transitional climate) on degraded chernozems (found in Haplic Phaeozems (Siltic) soils) generated from loess.

Table 1. Chemical properties of soil in the study site.

Parameter/Element	Amount	Level/Range
pHKCl	7.6	alkaline
N (total nitrogen)	2.24 g∙kg−1 soil	-
P (available phosphorus)	61.57 mg∙kg−1 soil	medium
K (available potassium)	182.12 mg∙kg−1 soil	medium
Mg (magnesium)	129.74 mg∙kg−1 soil	high

depicts the chemical properties of the soil components. The techniques outlined in [28] were used to evaluate these elements.

2.2. Experiment Design and Pratotechnical Description

The turf establishment experiment was carried out following agrotechnical guidelines. Super Lawn, a combination of grasses from Planta Sp.z.o.o. in Tarnów, Poland (

Table 2. Composition of evaluated grass mixture.

Species	Variety	Participation [%]
Perennial Ryegrass (Lolium perenne L.)	Stadion	10
Perennial Ryegrass (Lolium perenne L.)	Bokser	55
Tall Fescue (Festuca arundinacea Shreb.)	Escalante	10
Red Fescue (Festuca rubra L.)	Gross	6
Red Fescue (Festuca rubra L.)	Adio	19

), was utilized.

The experiment was set up using a randomized block design with three replications. In a 10m² area plot, the grass mixture was sown to 26.0 g∙m⁻². The sowing date was 7 April 2021.

During the year of sowing, 65 kg of nitrogen per hectare, 33 kg of phosphorus, and 124.5 kg of potassium per hectare were utilized for fertilisation. During the years of full use, 190 kg of nitrogen per hectare was applied. The nitrogen was applied at a rate of 40 kg per hectare in April and May, 30 kg per hectare in June, July, and August, 15 kg per hectare in October, and 5 kg per hectare in November. Additionally, 35.2 kg of phosphorus and 124.5 kg of potassium per hectare were applied. Nitrogen fertilisers were administered as ammonium nitrate (34% N), phosphorus fertilisers as granulated triple superphosphate (20.2% P), and potassium fertilisers as potassium salt (49.8% K). Throughout the growing season, 11–12 mowings were conducted annually at a height of 4 cm. Mowing was carried out once plants grew to a height of 8 cm, following the COBORU recommendations for ‘relax’ mixtures [29].

The experiment consisted of four variants, including a control (no application) and experimental variants with PLANTICINE^® at doses of 1.0 and 2.0 dm³∙ha⁻¹, and a variant with the commercial fungicide Bravo 500 SC applied at 1.5 dm³∙ha⁻¹. The PLANTICINE^® solution, tested for its efficacy, is produced by INTERMAG (INTERMAG sp. z o.o., Olkusz, Poland). It serves as a plant immunizer and contains oligogalacturonides, a plant derivative, with a concentration of 10 g∙dm⁻³, and an organic matter content of at least 50% dw. It has a pH of 5.0 ± 1.0 and a density range of 1000 ± 50 kg∙m⁻³. The colour varies from light straw to orange, and its physical form is liquid. This innovative solution, marketed as BioVaxin, consists of oligogalacturonides that are polymerised to an appropriate extent to boost the plant’s immune response.

The solution was applied three times during the growing season via foliar application, in April, June, and August.

2.3. Weather Conditions

Weather conditions varied during the experiment’s execution. The precipitation totals during the growing season (April-September) were 633.0 mm, 299.6 mm, and 468.2 mm in 2021, 2022, and 2023, respectively. Furthermore, the mean air temperatures during this period were 15.3, 15.8, and 15.6 °C, respectively (

Table 3. Total precipitation and mean air temperature at the Experimental Station in Prusy, University of Agriculture in Kraków, in the years 2021–2023.

Month	Precipitation [mm]			Average Temperature [°C]
	2021	2022	2023	2021	2022	2023
January	31.6	21.6	66.2	−0.9	0.4	2.8
February	40.2	24.4	35.8	−0.9	3.4	1.3
March	19.8	14.6	19.1	3.6	4.0	5.7
April	64.0	41.0	53.8	6.4	7.1	7.9
May	86.8	20.6	90.0	12.6	15.2	13.0
June	112.4	35.2	65.8	19.5	19.7	17.8
July	139.2	85.8	106.0	21.3	19.6	20.2
August	191.0	65.2	97.6	17.5	20.6	20.3
September	39.6	51.8	55.0	14.4	12.9	14.4
October	22.0	17.4	57.5	9.4	11.8	8.7
November	43.0	45.0	85.5	4.9	−2.4	3.1
December	17.8	23.5	12.0	−0.7	−3.9	−1.1
Total precipitation IV–IX * Total precipitation I–XII Average temperature IV–IX Average temperature I–XII	633.0	299.6	468.2	–	–
	807.4	446.1	744.3	–	–
	–	–	–	15.3	15.8	15.6
	–	–	–	8.9	9.0	9.5

* The months of the year are indicated by Roman numerals.

).

During extended drought periods (indicated by dried-out soil at a 3 cm depth and plants failing to rise upon being pressed by hand), irrigation through sprinkling was systematically applied every three days at a rate of approximately 10 dm³∙m⁻² water per application.

2.4. Methods of Plant Evaluation

Assessment of the turf’s value for use was conducted using the methodology for turf grasses developed by COBORU [30,31]. The utilization evaluation of the turf was carried out three times during each year of the study, specifically in spring (14 days after the start of vegetation), summer (mid-July), and autumn (mid-October). The tested treatments were applied approximately 14 days before evaluation. The qualitative characteristics of the lawns were assessed visually and rated on a nine-point scale (

Table 4. Scale grades used for bonitation assessment of turf grass quality.

Assesment	Overall Aspect	Turf Density	Color	Severity to Diseases	Leaf Texture
1	bad (no plants)	bad	yellow-green	plants completely infestated	very wide
2	bad to poor	bad to poor	olive green	very large to large	very wide to wide
3	weak	weak	bright-green	large	wide
4	weak to fair	weak to fair	green-grey	large to medium	wide to intermediate
5	sufficient	sufficient	juicy green	medium	intermediate
6	sufficient to good	sufficient to good	green	medium to small	intermediate to slender
7	good	good	grass green	small	slender
8	good to very good	good to very good	dirty green	small to very small	subtle to very slender
9	very good	very good	emerald	no symptoms of infestation	very slender

). The evaluation included overall aesthetic appearance, turf density, colour, and leaf texture during the autumn season. Additionally, the lawns were evaluated for their tolerance to diseases during times of high disease prevalence. The identification of fungal species was carried out using phytopathological keys and monographic studies.

Lawns that are mowed infrequently and not fertilised show minimal disease incidence but have limited aesthetic appeal. Increasing the frequency of mowing and fertilisation contributes to the visual appeal of the lawns, but also increases the risk of disease, especially if care mistakes are made [32]. This paper discusses two fungal diseases: Leaf spot caused by Drechslera spp. and Bipolaris spp., and microdochium patch, also known as pink snow mould, caused by Microdochium nivale.

The study investigated the impact of the applied factors on chlorophyll levels annually during the experiment. The chlorophyll content was determined using a Minolta SPAD 502DL chlorophyll meter (Minolta, Osaka, Japan) on the upper leaves, measuring the difference in light absorption at 650 and 940 nm. This quotient serves as an index of leaf greenness or chlorophyll content [33,34]. Technical abbreviations will be explained upon first use. Measurements were taken on thirty fully-developed leaves in each plot. The leaf area index (LAI) was measured using the Sunscan System from Delta-T, while the normalized difference vegetation Index (NDVI) was determined using the GreenSeeker. The mineral content was determined utilizing the Weende method [35].

2.5. Statistical Analysis

The results were analysed statistically using Statistica 12, with data presented through box plots displaying the median, the range of the most frequent results (between the first and third quartiles), the range of non-outliers (located no more than one-and-a-half quarter points from the most frequent), and outliers/extreme values. The study compared Classical Pearson correlation coefficients, with a significance level of α = 0.05. To assess the statistical significance of variations between indicator means, we conducted a one-way ANOVA using the Tukey Kramer HSD test. In instances where indicators demonstrated no observable differences in visual representation, we applied a corrected mean difference index ($A_d^{\prime }$).

The revised mean difference index was calculated using the equation (Equation (1)) because of the apparent similarity in the evolution of the NDVI and SPAD indices:

$$A_d^{\prime }=\frac{{{\displaystyle \sum }}_{k=1}^n\left(a_n-b_n\right) }{n} · \frac{\left|{{\displaystyle \sum }}_{k=1}^n\left(a_n-b_n\right)\right|}{{{\displaystyle \sum }}_{k=1}^n\left|a_n-b_n\right|}$$

(1)

The $A_d^{\prime }$ ratio is equal to the mean difference when comparing two quantities, where one is consistently larger than the other. However, when the leading quantity changes frequently, the coefficient of variation must be multiplied by the average to obtain the improved mean difference index.

3. Results

The areas treated with a commercial fungicide (variant IV) displayed noticeably higher values in terms of both aesthetic and plant performance. However, the administration of a greater dosage of oligogalacturonide at 2.0 dm³·ha⁻¹ (variant III) also yielded satisfactory outcomes.

3.1. Visual Assessment

The analysis indicates that the use of PLANTICINE^® in variants II and III resulted in significantly higher visual assessment indices compared to the variant I. The median index for the general aspect was 7.6–7.8, while in the variant I it was 5.6 (

Table 5. Visual assessment coefficient values for 2021–2023.

	Variant I	Variant II	Variant III	Variant IV
General aspect	6.08 ± 2.02 a	6.97 ± 2.38 b	7.36 ± 1.36 bc	7.95 ± 0.45 c
Turf Density	6.28 ± 1.88 a	7.72 ± 2.14 b	7.55 ± 1.59 b	8.37 ± 0.63 c
Leaf colour	5.93 ± 2.13 a	6.98 ± 1.89 b	7.47 ± 1.80 bc	7.99 ± 0.99 c
Leaf texture—slenderness	5.64 ± 2.52 a	6.51 ± 1.43 b	7.08 ± 1.50 bc	7.41 ± 1.51 c
Pink snow mold	8.13 ± 3.13 a	8.26 ± 3.16 ab	8.37 ± 3.09 ab	8.73 ± 1.58 b
Leaf spot	6.98 ± 2.02 a	7.50 ± 1.50 a	8.32 ± 1.32 b	8.74 ± 0.74 b

The same superscript letters in each row demonstrate a lack of significant difference between values (p < 0.05).

). The higher dose of the preparation resulted in a smaller spread of values and thus the vast majority of samples exceeded the value of 6.5 of this index. The variant treated with the commercial fungicide (IV) outperformed the control group, with a median value of 8 and a small range of values.

The canopy index is higher in variants II, III, and IV compared to I. There is a difference in both medians and means, ranging from 1.3–1.7. Notably, in variant IV, almost all samples and in variant III, some samples reached values higher than the largest among the control variant. Leaf colour and structure also had significantly higher median values.

Disease severity was investigated, including pink snow mould, leaf spot, and stem rust. Overall, variants II, III, and IV produced slightly higher values for the pink snow mould. The samples with PLANTICINE^® and the commercial fungicide had a significantly smaller spread of values, excluding a few outliers, but had the same median. For stem rust, variants II, III, and IV also had significantly higher medians.

Regarding brown spotting, variant III had a median of 8.5, while variant II had a median of 7 and variant I had a median of 6.3. Additionally, all tested samples of variant III achieved values higher than the median of variant I, and most of them had values greater than variant II’s median. However, the highest results were achieved by variant IV, with a median of 9.

3.2. Mineral Components

The subsequent analysis aimed to identify differences in mineral levels among the tested variants. However, the overall values were not as clear-cut as in the visual assessment. Variants II, III, and IV showed a similarly large spread of values for all tested components. Therefore, we will only analyse the quotients between their medians and the median of control sample I.

Table 6. The percentage of mineral medians for variants II, III, and IV in relation to variant I.

	P	K	Ca	Mg	Na	Mn	Fe	Zn	Cu
Var II	120.85	103.83	103.62	133.04	84.12	106.27	103.40	87.52	98.22
Var III	107.58	103.12	95.00	104.30	91.33	107.83	106.97	93.40	100.47
Var IV	112.11	105.72	99.29	109.19	123.70	101.76	112.86	91.12	99.39

shows the percentage of the control sample’s median obtained by variants II, III, and IV.

In variant II, the levels of phosphorus and magnesium were significantly higher than those of the other elements tested. Manganese levels were also relatively high, while sodium and zinc levels were the lowest and did not even reach 90% of the control sample.

In variant III, there were no significant deviations compared to variant I, except for the levels of phosphorus, manganese, and iron, which were about 7 pp (percentage points) higher. On the other hand, the levels of calcium, sodium, and zinc were lower by 5 pp, 8.7 pp, and 6.6 pp, respectively. It is important to note that variants II, III, and IV all had lower median zinc content than variant I. However, variant III had the smallest difference.

In variant IV, the most significant differences can be seen for sodium, where the median result was as much as 23.7 pp higher than in the control sample. High rates were also observed for phosphorus, magnesium, and iron (109–113%).

The following analysis calculated the Pearson correlation coefficients between the individual mineral values (

Table 7. Matrix of Pearson correlation coefficients between minerals for all variants.

	P	K	Ca	Mg	Na	Mn	Fe	Zn	Cu
P	1	−0.046	0.407	0.490	−0.419	0.506	0.363	−0.160	−0.187
K	−0.046	1	−0.505	−0.250	0.228	−0.226	−0.324	−0.037	−0.265
Ca	0.407	−0.505	1	0.653	−0.319	0.481	0.222	−0.236	0.184
Mg	0.490	−0.250	0.653	1	−0.409	0.535	−0.059	0.019	0.454
Na	−0.419	0.228	−0.319	−0.409	1	−0.413	−0.008	0.372	−0.101
Mn	0.506	−0.226	0.481	0.535	−0.413	1	−0.041	0.142	0.226
Fe	0.363	−0.324	0.222	−0.059	−0.008	−0.041	1	−0.047	−0.244
Zn	−0.160	−0.037	−0.236	0.019	0.372	0.142	−0.047	1	0.492
Cu	−0.187	−0.265	0.184	0.454	−0.101	0.226	−0.244	0.492	1

The highest and lowest values (excluding 1) are highlighted in color for better visibility.

). However, analysing all four variants together revealed no significant correlation. None of the coefficients reached an r value greater than |r| > 0.7.

3.3. LAI, NDVI, and SPAD Indices

This section presents a statistical analysis of the leaf area index (LAI), normalized difference vegetation index (NDVI), and leaf greenness index (SPAD) values over the entire study period. Figure 1 shows that the scatter of LAI values is large in all variants, but variant III has the highest median, which is 5% higher than in the control sample. The NDVI and SPAD indices demonstrate a significant improvement with PLANTICINE^®. In variant II, there was an increase of approximately 3% compared to the control sample, and in variant III, there was a 5% increase, as illustrated in Figure 2 and Figure 3.

To examine the relative and absolute differences between variants II, III, IV and variant I, this indicator was used. The A_d values for the leaf area index (LAI) reached less than 2% for variants II and III (

Table 8. $A_d^{\prime }$ ratio between variants II, III, IV and variant I.

Variant	LAI	LAI [%]	NDVI	NDVI [%]	SPAD	SPAD [%]
Var II	−0.0021	−0.19	0.0259	3.25	1.5234	4.21
Var III	0.0218	1.99	0.0462	5.81	2.5959	7.18
Var IV	0.0382	3.48	0.0637	8.00	3.7557	10.38

), indicating minimal differences from the control sample. However, for the normalized difference vegetation index (NDVI) and soil-plant analysis development (SPAD) indices, clear increases were observed for all variants. Variant II showed increases of 3.25% and 4.21% respectively, while variant III showed increases of 5.81% and 7.18% respectively. Variant IV showed increases of 8% and 10.38% respectively. It is important to note that for the NDVI and SPAD, $A_d^{\prime }$ yielded the same values as the classic mean difference. This demonstrates the significant impact of the tested preparations used in variants II, III, and IV on these indices.

4. Discussion

This paper presents a significant contribution to our comprehension of the role of oligogalacturonides in the disease resistance of turf grasses. The results confirm that the application of oligogalacturonides is a promising strategy. However, there are important aspects that require further investigation. The authors report that the application of oligogalacturonides led to higher values of vegetative indices and the concentration of certain mineral nutrients. The compounds tested have the potential to stimulate plant growth and development, which is important for maintaining a healthy lawn. It is important to note that oligogalacturonides are among the most well-studied plant damage-associated molecular patterns (DAMPs), confirming their role in activating the plant defence response [15,16].

Oligogalacturonides (OGs) are pectins released during pathogenesis from the breakdown of homogalacturonan that mimic molecular patterns associated with damage [36]. However, the study found that chemical protection with a commercial fungicide was more effective than the use of oligogalacturonides. Plants treated with this form of protection exhibited the highest values for the tested parameters. The effectiveness of using oligogalacturonides in agricultural and horticultural practice is a question that arises. This paper, in the context of the articles cited by Bittel and Robatzek [15] and Boller and Felix [16], fits perfectly into the current of research on MAMP-triggered immunity. It highlights the role of MAMPs, such as chitin or peptidoglycan, in activating the plant immune system. This work focuses on a specific compound, oligogalacturonides.

Previous research suggests that oligogalacturonides significantly impact the functional value of lawn grasses in the context of fungal diseases. The use of a formulation containing oligogalacturonides leads to a reduction in the incidence of fungal diseases. A comparative analysis showed that a higher dose of this preparation resulted in a significant reduction in severity to pink snow mould and leaf spot compared to plants in the control group [37]. An improvement in the grass quality was observed, indicating that oligogalacturonides have potential as an effective tool to enhance the quality of turfgrasses. They influence the nutritional value and the resistance to fungal diseases. Plants treated with this formulation exhibit greater green-up, better leaf colour, and increased resistance to fungal infections [37]. This is also important in terms of sustainable agricultural practices. The formulation based on oligogalacturonide is registered for use in organic farming. It stimulates the natural defence mechanisms of plants, enhancing traditional protection methods and promoting sustainable agricultural practices [8,37].

Galletti et al. [17], Tor et al. [18], and Ranf et al. [20] have demonstrated that plant cells can respond to signals from damage or stress, leading to the activation of a defence response. These studies shed light on endogenous defence signals, known as DAMPs, which are crucial to understanding plant defence mechanisms. Specifically, oligogalacturonides, a type of DAMP, appear to play a key role in this response. It is important to note that this work provides new insights into plant defence signalling and has practical implications. The use of oligogalacturonides may be a step towards more sustainable plant protection practices. However, further research is needed to determine the optimal conditions for their use and any possible synergistic effects with other protection measures, as chemical protection has proven to be more effective. Considering the research on plant responses to endogenous defence signals, it is important to further investigate the distribution and function of DAMPs in turf grasses. This will provide a more comprehensive understanding of plant defence mechanisms.

In conclusion, this work makes a significant contribution to research aimed at reducing the severity of turf grasses to fungal infections, particularly in the context of their defense against these diseases. It paves the way for further research into the use of oligogalacturonides in agricultural practice, with a specific focus on reducing the severity of turf grasses to fungal infections. However, it is important to note that a complete understanding of the defence mechanisms requires further analysis and experimentation [38,39].

5. Conclusions

A study was conducted to investigate the effect of oligogalacturonides on the bonitation value of lawn grasses. The grasses treated with oligogalacturonide were found to have higher soil quality and were more suitable for cultivation compared to the grasses in the control group. The value increased noticeably as the dose of oligogalacturonides increased, reaching a maximum at a dose of 2.0 dm³∙ha⁻¹. Grass quality was affected by several factors, including greater clumping and improved leaf colour, as well as increased resistance to fungal diseases. The study was conducted at various sites, including a control group with no formulation, experimental sites sprayed with PLANTICINE^® at two different rates, and a variant treated with a commercial fungicide. The study concluded that chemical protection with the commercial fungicide was more effective than the use of oligogalacturonides. The plants protected with the fungicide exhibited the highest values for the parameters analysed.

Oligogalacturonides may enhance the boning value of lawn grasses, depending on their concentration, grass species, and environmental conditions. This study provides a foundation for further research into the use of oligogalacturonides in lawn grass care. The results suggest that a formulation based on oligogalacturonides can effectively reduce fungal pathogen infestation on grass leaves. As a product registered for use in organic agriculture, it stimulates the natural defence mechanisms of plants. This leads to the induction of the defence response and the production of defence proteins. The efficacy of this formula not only enhances traditional plant protection methods but also supports sustainable farming practices.

The use of this preparation has a significant effect on the overall condition of plants, leading to a reduction in the incidence of fungal diseases. A comparative analysis demonstrated that a higher dose of the oligogalacturonide formulation resulted in a significant reduction in the incidence of pink snow mould and leaf spot compared to plants in the control group. The observations suggest that oligogalacturonides could be a useful tool for enhancing the quality of turfgrasses, improving their nutritional value and resistance to fungal diseases.