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Proper guidelines for packaging and shipping plant samples to ensure quality and secure submission. Includes instructions for avoiding common packaging mistakes and preserving insects for accurate diagnosis. Contact information for submission available.
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A Consortium of Regional Networks Sample Submission: Quality and Security
Foliage diseases Sample Quality: Diseases may be on any plant part Lesions / Damage on trunk?
Sample Quality Avoid dead plants Dead Plants Tell No Tales!
Put your samples in a cold box! Have Ziploc baggies Bring several Sharpies
Sample Quality:Packaging & Shipping • Strong crush-proof box • All seams taped • Keep soil on roots • Plastic bag on roots, closed around stem • Do not add extra water • Wrap in dry paper then double bag in plastic • Zip-able lock bags are highly preferred • Disinfest exterior of bags
Sample Quality:Packaging Mistakes Don’t add water or wrap in wet paper towels Sample “soup”
Sample Quality:Good Packaging Plastic bag to keep soil on roots Dry paper to protect leaves from contact with plastic bag
Packaging a sample • Place sample on a paper towel. Do not wet the towel. • Double bag and seal the sample in zip-able bags. • If shipping, use a crush proof box with seams sealed completely with tape. • Be sure to include the sample submission form required by your state ( PDR) and place outside the bagged sample.
Quality and Secure Sample Submission:INSECTS Most insects can be preserved in a vial with 70% isopropyl alcohol
Quality and Secure Sample Submission: INSECTS • Caterpillars should be placed in boiling water for 1 minute prior to preservation in 70% alcohol Don’t Microwave
Digital Diagnosis Take at least 5 photos – close up and at a distance
Quality and Secure SampleDigital photos • Digital photos of damage and insect assist with identification. • Describe the level of infestation on the plant. • Cycad Scale in Florida
Quality and Secure Sample Submission • Furnish all relevant information, including: • your contact information • location, name of grower/owner, date found • extent of damage, incidence and severity data • more information means faster, better diagnosis • Site conditions and history of sample
Submitting the Sample • Notify the agent • That you have a suspect sample • whether you will be delivering or shipping the sample • give estimated time and date of arrival • if shipping, give all relevant shipping info: • - carrier • - tracking number • - expected time of delivery
Rick Bostock WPDN Regional Director UCD 530-752-4269 rmbostock@ucdavis.edu Carla Thomas WPDN Deputy Director UCD 530-304-0689 cthomas@ucdavis.edu Susan McCarthy CDFA Laboratory Chief smccarthy@cdfa.ca.gov Martin Draper NPDN Project Leader mdraper@nifa.usda.gov Richard Hoenisch NPDN Education Coordinator UCD 530-754-2255 rwhoenisch@ucdavis.edu