Sample Submission Review

Sample Submission Review • Accurate Diagnosis depends on a good sample and symptom description Enter sample information into PDIS (Plant Disease Information System)

Samples must contain the right material: an entire plant or several plants if practical Diseases may show up on any part of the plant. Foliage diseases Keep most roots and soil intact if possible Check for injuries, disease on the main stem/trunk

Dead Plants Tell no Tales • Avoid dead plants • Choose plants which show a range of symptoms: moderate to severe

Packaging & Shipping Good Intentions

Actual Results

Packaging and Shipping blunders Soil on foliage during shipping creates “diseases” that were not there when the sample was collected.

Packaging and shipping blunders Sample soup Don’t add water or wrap in wet paper towels

Good Packaging • Plastic bag to keep soil on roots • Dry paper towels to protect leaves from contact with plastic bag

Collect samples with mild, moderate, and severe symptoms as well as a healthy comparison

Sample Submission Send in whole plants with roots whenever possible.

Keep some soil around the root ball • Wrap root ball in plastic and secure with rubber band around the base of the plant. • Loosely enclose the foliage in paper • Enclose in an unsealed plastic bag • Package in crush-proof box, use cooler during hot weather • Include sample submittal form in package

http://diagnostics.montana.edu Click on ‘Plant Diseases’

http://diagnostics.montana.edu/PlantDisease/index.html Click on ‘Cropland Pest’

Cropland Pest Form • Print out form • Fill out question-naire with as much detail as possible • Place form in box with sample • Take to County Agent – If Possible

Include photographs illustrating the problem and field patterns if possible.

Sample Submission Review