Submitting Samples for Diagnosis
When bringing a plant sample or insect for diagnosis to one of the Master Gardener Plant Clinics, failure to provide an adequate sample or complete information about the sample will greatly affect the quality of the diagnosis. The better the sample and the more thorough the information... the more accurate the identification and diagnosis of the cause and the better the advice on the management or control of the problem. Please note and follow the submission procedures.
- Preparing Insect & Spider Specimens for Identification
- Preparing Plant Specimens for Disease Diagnosis
- Special Instructions for Turf Samples
- Submitting Plant & Weed ID Requests
- Charges for Diagnosis
Preparing Insect & Spider Specimens for Identification
- Carefully collect insect specimens or plant material associated with insect damage.
- Send as much of the affected plant material associated with the insect pest as possible.
- Place the insect or spider in alcohol contained in either small vials or bottles with screw caps. 35mm film canisters and snap lid pill bottles leak, so tape lid and place in a plastic bag. If you do not have a supply of regular methyl or ethyl alcohol, rubbing alcohol may be used. This is easily obtained from any drugstore. Place accompanying plant material in an zip-type plastic bag. Do not place the plant material in alcohol.
- Place large adult moths and butterflies cushioned in a box or jar with cotton to minimize damage. Kill them first by placing them in the freezer. Do not place these in alcohol.
- Bring the sample to one of the Master Gardener Plant Clinics in Kitsap County and complete the Insect Identification Form C0495.
Preparing Plant Specimens for Disease Diagnosis
- Select a plant specimen showing distinct disease symptoms. If it's not practical to send the entire plant, try to send several plants or plant parts that show the various stages of the problem; a plant showing the early stages of the disease, a plant that is severely affected. include a healthy plant, if available. Diagram or describe any apparent patterns of damage. The plant pathologists who make the diagnoses have to depend on you to know how the disease looked at the site when the sample was taken.
- Dig up the entire plant where practical, including its root structure. Try not to pull it out because diseased roots will be left behind.
- Tree diseases can best be diagnosed by evaluating the junction of diseased and healthy tissue. Include twigs or limbs just beginning to show symptoms, but still alive. Old, dead limbs are useless.
- Wrap the roots in a plastic bag separate from the rest of the plant to prevent dirt from contaminating leaves and stems.
- Place the entire sample in another plastic bag without additional moisture, as it also may cause contamination.
- Bring the sample to one of the Master Gardener Plant Clinics in Benton and Franklin Counties and complete the Plant Problem Diagnosis Form C0084.
Special Instructions for Turf Samples
- Use a cup cutter to take lawn disease specimens, or cut the turf in squares approximately 4 in. across and as deep as the roots will hold soil. Leave the soil intact. DO NOT bring in smaller samples or pulled grass blades.
- Take the sample from the edge of the affected area so that the sample represents healthy, slightly affected, and heavily damaged turf.
- Bring turf samples to the Master Gardener Clinic in Kennewick on a Monday or Tuesday. If received later in the week, they will not be shipped to the WSU Plant Clinic in Puyallup for further diagnosis until the next week. This is to avoid deterioration of the sample due to delays encountered with weekend mail delivery.
- Complete the "Turf Problem Identification Form" available from the Cooperative Extension office.
- Store samples in a refrigerator until immediately prior to sending.
Submitting Plant & Weed Identification Requests
- Plants are identified in many ways. The most useful plant parts are flowers, fruits, leaves, buds, and young stems. Because some ornamental plants have many varieties, it may not be possible to determine the exact variety without the flower. With cultivated plants it will often be difficult or impossible to accurately identify the plant as to its cultivated variety. Complete the "Plant Identification Form" available from the Extension office. Collect as many plant parts as possible.
- Place samples in a plastic bag (DO NOT add moisture as it may cause contamination) and close with a rubber band or staple.
- Store samples in the refrigerator until you are ready to deliver it.
Charges for Diagnostic
- Services There is no charge for the basic diagnostic services on samples submitted to the Master Gardener Plant Clinics. However, Cooperative Extension publications provided to home gardeners are available at current Cooperative Extension prices.
- If additional tests are desired by the home garden client and the samples must be sent away for further testing, there may be a charge for special diagnostic tests and/or postage: Special testing - $40 This Includes culturing of pathogenic organisms, serological assays (ELISA testing), and other special handling as determined by the Diagnostic Plant Pathologists. Clients will be notified prior to testing.
- Special insect identification - $15 In limited cases, it may be necessary to utilize other specialists to identify certain insect/spider groups, particularly at the species level. Clients will be notified prior to forwarding of specimens.
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