Texas Plant Disease Diagnostic Lab
05/24/2023 UPDATE: We will be closed Friday May26th 1/2 a day and Monday May 29th for Memorial Day.
will not have anyone sitting at the front desk or answering the phone Friday May 26th through Monday June 5th. For assistance, please email plantclinic@tamu.edu.
02/26/2023 UPDATE: Long time Head Diagnostician Sheila McBride retired at the end of January 2023 (see story here https://bit.ly/3IW0ELy). Dr. Pedro Uribe is currently filling in as the interim Head Diagnostician while we seek for the next permanent Head Diagnostician of the TPDDL-CS. The Head Diagnostician is classified as a Project Manager position in AgriLife Extension. If you are interested or know someone who is interested and qualified, please visit this link for more information and to apply. https://bit.ly/3SxjmMQ
Since September 2021, we have utilized the current billing system that requires all new clients should fill out form AG-257 (link to form here). This should only occur once to set up a customer no. with Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service. If you have used other AgriLife Extension services, you may have completed this prior – please include your customer no. on the TPDDL form when submitting samples. Completion of this form Ag-257 is required for us to extend our ability to process your sample with necessary procedures for confirmatory diagnosis.
We CANNOT begin any work on your submitted sample until we have a customer number in our system.
If you are a homeowner and/or do not want to provide your identity information (SSN) on the Ag-257, you can send a check in with your sample (pre-pay). Please note, that we are only able to conduct analysis on the specific paid service that is requested and will not be able to pursue further analysis if needed for confirmatory diagnosis.
Please contact us by email IF you have received an invoice but not the report OR had not heard anything 15 business days (3 weeks) after submission of sample. We have instituted an email receipt reply notification to inform the submitter when we receive their sample and to provide a sample reference number for future inquiries related to that sample.
Homeowners are encouraged to check with their local Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service county office for local assistance first.
Please check with the lab prior to sending samples to check on operational status: updated information will be posted here and on our Facebook page (http://facebook.com/TXPlantClinic).
Thank you for your patience and your support of the Texas Plant Disease Diagnostic Labs.
*******************************
About The Texas Plant Disease Diagnostic Laboratory
Located in College Station, The Texas Plant Disease Diagnostic Laboratory is a Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service lab managed by the Department of Plant Pathology and Microbiology at Texas A&M University.
The Texas High Plains Plant Disease Diagnostic Laboratory is located at the Texas A&M AgriLife Research & Extension Center in Amarillo. The THPPDDL specialized in disease diagnostics of small grains and row crops.
Our Mission
To provide accurate and timely plant disease diagnostic support to AgriLife Extension & Research personnel, Texas Department of Agriculture, the agriculture/green industry and the people of Texas to protect and secure our plant resources and to promote economic competitiveness.
Our History
The idea for a plant disease diagnostic service at Texas A&M University started in 1956, when Dr. Harlan Smith, the Extension plant pathologist, used it as a way to provide support to Extension personnel and growers/farmers. In 1982, the Texas Plant Disease Diagnostic Laboratory (TPDDL) was formally established, with the appointment of Dr. Larry Barnes as its first director. In 2002, the TPDDL was called upon to be one of many universities and state labs around the country to participate in the National Plant Diagnostic Network (NPDN) and perspective region, the Southern Plant Diagnostic Network (SPDN). This network seeks to support a (i) secure regional network for the detection and diagnosis of plant health problems, (ii) extend and support sound public policies, implement rapid and accurate diagnoses, and response strategies, and (iii) provide leadership and training. Currently, the clinic processes approximately 3000 samples annually and supports/manages different projects under the direction of Dr. Kevin Ong and Lead Diagnostician, Sheila McBride.
If you would like to help support efforts at the Texas Plant Disease Diagnostic Labs or any of the Texas Plant Clinics, please contact us.
For assistance with plant health issues, please contact your local Texas A&M AgriLife Extension county office. If contacting us, please email to get a quicker response. Our email contact is plantclinic@tamu.edu . Thank you for your patience.
