Types of testing offered

The TPDDL can assist with any type of plant disease problem. Field crops, trees, turfgrass, vegetables, fruits, flowers, shrubs, houseplants, or any other type of plant is welcome. Lab tests are avaliable for most plant pathogens. Tissue isolations are commonly used to detect fungal and bacterial plant pathogens.

State-of-the-art diagnostic techniques such as fatty acid methyl ester testing using temperature-programmed, flame ionization, gas chromatography for bacterial pathogens are routinely used in the TPDDL.

Detection of plant viruses, using serological techniques, is also avaliable. The TPDDL is capable of testing of both soil and plant roots for plant parasitic nematodes.

Specialized testing avaliable

The TPDDL offers specialized testing for the the oak wilt pathogen (minimum 21 days), and Pierce's Disease of grape. Please contact TPDDL if there is need for additional specific testing of plant material for plant disease problems.

Turn-around time

Turn around time is dependent on specimen load that is received at the TPDDL. At peak time (spring-fall), routine diagnoses are usually finished in 7-10 days, depending on specimen load. Specimens requiring extensive testing require more time. For example, oak wilt testing takes a minimum of 21 days. Diagnostic results are routinely mailed to the client, but results can also be faxed or emailed to facilitate a quick diagnostic turn-around time.

Please refer to CLINIC CALENDAR for availability of diagnostician to process samples.