Plant Pathology Infobytes

July 20, 1999
Questions Can Get You Answers at Your County Extension Office

It goes without saying that vegetable gardening, fruit production, and maintaining a healthy landscape is a lot more rewarding when plant health problems can be minimized. So, if something suddenly goes wrong with you plants, homeowners want to know what's going on. If you're not sure where to turn for help, the best place to start is the County Extension Office.

It's a good idea to determine the cause of the problem as soon as possible, since timely problem identification allows an early start and improved chances for carrying out a treatment or control measure which could save sick plants. Step number one is to give us a call, and we'll tell you how to properly collect a specimen to bring in for diagnosis. In most cases, we'll be able to identify the problem and provide a publication which contains control information. And, good news -- there's no charge for the service!

If we can't determine the problem, the specimen will be referred to our plant pathology or insect identification laboratories at Mississippi State University. These laboratories were established for the purpose of helping anyone who needs assistance in solving plant health problems.

Clientele groups served by these laboratories include homeowners who need to have vegetable, orchard, landscape plant, and turf problems identified. Additionally, commercial horticultural crop producers, farmers, agricultural consultants, landscape maintenance companies, as well as regulatory and governmental agencies, send plant specimens in for disease and injurious insect identification.

In an average year, these labs receive about 1,800 plant specimens. The labs are well equipped to handle most problems. Microscopic assays and tissue isolation are routinely used to identify the specific type of disease causing microorganism which may be involved.

Following laboratory testing of specimens, a diagnostic report is sent to the client. It identifies the disease or insect pests and lists control strategies to minimize further plant loss. There is no charge for the plant disease diagnostic services offered by laboratories.

Accurate diagnosis of a plant health problem depends on several factors. The specimen must arrive at the laboratory in fresh condition, but just as important, it must also be representative of the symptoms expressed in the garden, orchard, or landscape. Also, a complete description of the area, its history of cultural or chemical control practices, and other pertinent facts will need to be provided in order for the laboratory to provide an accurate identification of the problem. This information should be supplied on Plant Disease Diagnosis and Insect Identification Form 205. Copies of this form are available through the County Extension Office.



Written by the late Dr. Frank Killebrew

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