Category Archives: GENERAL

General categories

Stress, fungal pathogen(s) or both?

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Mid-September 2015 The last four weeks, I got at least 3 questions regarding why junipers or pines are dying.  Often the story is that there is one or two plants that are affected in amongst a bunch of trees.  Symptoms usually begins with several branches exhibiting die-back, gradually gets worse.Some narrative states that the plant appear to die quickly one the dieback started. SO what is going on….   I remember back in 2007… The scenario = 2005/2006 hard drought years and 2007 wet spring, mild temperature thru… Read More →

New TPDDL employee

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Please welcome Ms. Joyce Soliz who joins us on June 22, 2015 as the TPDDL Secretary (Extension Business Assistant III).  Ms. Soliz will be assisting in the data entry of samples.  She will also be providing client inquiry support and redirecting client to appropriate TPDDL personnel. TPDDL client sample  inquiry (phone) support is available from 9:00am -12:00noon  and 1:00pm – 4:00pm, Monday to Friday.  

Beauty is Only Skin Deep

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The definition of beauty has become a rather obsessive paradigm that has affected present society. It is a constant desire to reach what is perceived to be “perfection.” This infectious ideal has given rise to profitable industries of cosmetics, heavy research of youth enhancing serums, even to the extent of affecting our perspective of healthy food products. The slightest blemish or spot on a fruit may discourage fellow consumers, potentially preventing their purchase and leaving the fruit to rot in the produce isle. What a waste. One such… Read More →

New Year news – much activities and COLD

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This year went off with a start where the Plant Clinic remains busy with many different activities.  Here are a few highlights: Many of you may have notice a new posting on our Facebook page called “Sample of the week”. This project/task is headed by our new Extension Assistant (newly graduated former student worker), B. Commer.  The goals is to post an interesting thing that is received by the TX Plant Clinic once every 1-2 weeks. Check out and like us on Facebook.  https://www.facebook.com/TXPlantClinic Thanks to colleague, Dr…. Read More →

Cladoptosis: An interesting phenomenon

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Cladoptosis is a process in which trees shed their branches or “self-prune” as part of their normal physiology or in response to stress through the formation of an abcission layer at the branch base. Sources of stress which may contribute to this shedding include drought, soil and root compaction, or presence of disease. In the case of certain tree species, however, none of these factors need be present in order for Cladoptosis to occur. For some tree species, including larches, pines, poplars, willows, maples, walnut, ashes, bald cypress, and oaks,… Read More →