Using enzymes to decrease thatch

Golf Course Industry Superintendent Radio Network • April 20, 2026

From innovative origins to on-course applications, we go inside the ThatchZyme story with ZymeCO founder and CTO Dr. Tad Huber, vice president of sales and marketing Dr. Phil Dwyer, and legendary agronomist and industry search executive Armen Suny.

What can enzymes do to improve golf and turf maintenance experiences?

ZymeCO founder and CTO Dr. Tad Huber explains the experimentation that led to the development of ThatchZyme, a sprayable solution to help golf courses manage thatch. The discovery process included plenty of conversations with his father-in-law Armen Suny, a legendary and curious agronomist.

Plus, ZymeCO vice president of sales and marketing Dr. Phil Dwyer joins Huber and Suny to reveal insights from the field.

Topics covered on this episode include:

ThatchZyme origins and innovation motivation
Field observations
Enzyme mechanism and design goals
Market discovery
Research & Development, portfolio expansion and positioning
Application strategy and seasonal considerations
Distribution and global reach

All Golf Course Industry podcasts can be found on the Superintendent Radio Network page of popular distribution platforms.

SOURCE: https://www.golfcourseindustry.com/media/thatch-management-golf-courses-enzymes/

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By Stephanie Wedryk, Ph.D. • September 30, 2026

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By Stephanie Wedryk, Ph.D. • September 8, 2026

Corn residue can decompose slowly because lignin gives stalks and leaves their rigid structure. TillZyme™ uses laccase enzyme technology to help accelerate the breakdown of tough crop residue.

Break it Down with TillZyme

By Stephanie Wedryk, Ph.D. • September 2, 2026

After harvest, crop residue is not just leftover stalks and leaves. It is an active biological system that adds nutrients to the soil, increases organic matter, and builds better soil structure for next year. Actively managed residues help create a favorable seedbed for better stands and yield. The enzymes produced by fungi accelerate the process by breaking down tough lignin before naturally occurring soil microbes take over. Learn more here .