DISEASE
DIAGNOSIS
A Laboratory and Field
Diagnostic Service
780 Palmer Road
Walnut Creek, CA
94596-6017
phone/fax
(925) 937-3841
email: Luellen@pdd.biz
www.pdd.biz
A Laboratory and Field
Diagnostic Service
780 Palmer Road
Walnut Creek, CA
94596-6017
phone/fax
(925) 937-3841
email: Luellen@pdd.biz
www.pdd.biz
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Disease diagnosis and horticultural consultation. Landscape and garden. |
If the trees and shrubs in your landscape are looking unhealthy or dying, you may have a disease or cultural problem. The first step to improve plant health is to determine just what is the problem. You may have a disease causing fungus, such as Armillaria, Phytophthora, or Verticillium in your soil. The solution may be as simple as planting trees and shrubs that do not get the disease. Improving soil drainage may solve the problem. A fungicide may be helpful. Once the cause of the disease is determined, the proper management techniques can be recommended. If no disease is present the poor vitality of the tree of shrub may be due to improper cultural conditions. Selection of plants that will do well in your yard may solve the problem.
A site visit to your home is recommended for a thorough evaluation of your landscape situation. It is difficult for a homeowner to collect the proper plant sample for a diagnosis. Plant samples are cultured in a laboratory to confirm the diagnosis.
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To keep ahead of your turf disease problems, an accurate diagnosis is essential. Spraying with the wrong fungicide wastes money and adds unwanted chemicals to the environment. A site visit will determine your disease or cultural problems and lead to an attractive landscape and a happy client.
In addition to tests for landscape tree and shrub problems, the following turf diseases are commonly cultured:
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An early and accurate diagnosis of your disease problems can save you from large crop losses. We specialize in bacterial disease diagnosis. Special research projects are available. Many disease control strategies can be pre-tested in the lab, saving you time and energy. For instance, fungal or bacterial strains from your facility can be cultured and tested against pesticides to determine if resistance is present. This saves money by preventing the use of ineffective pesticides.
Pathogens commonly investigated include:
Tests available for:
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Collecting & Shipping Specimens for Diagnosis
Principal Diagnostician: Luellen Pierce
MS in Mycology, 1972, University of Wisconsin
| Lab Work/Research | $90/hour |
| Site Visit | $90/hour |
| Typical Charge (per sample) | |
| Fungal Diagnosis | $45 |
| Sudden Oak Death | $90 |
| Bacterial Diagnosis | $55-$75 |
| Fungal and Bacterial Diagnosis | $55-$75 |
| Turf Diagnosis | $55-110 |
| ELISA Virus Test | $100 |
| Soil Pathogen Tests (per pathogen) | $50-$75 |
| Conk/Mushroom Identification | $55 |
The fee is charged for the diagnostic process. Results may be negative.
Fungal Diagnosis
One plate of a
non-selective media is used. In addition if the symptoms indicate it, one
plate each of one or two
selective media are
used. On each plate 6 pieces of affected tissue are placed. In 2 to
7 days the plates are examinedmicroscopically for fungal pathogens.
Pathogens are usually identified to the genus level. An additional fee may
be charged if identification to species is requested.
Bacterial Diagnosis
In addition
to the procedures listed for the standard sample, the specimen is streaked on
plates for bacterial growth. One non-selective and two to three selective media
plates are used. If additional physiological tests are needed
foridentification, an additional fee will be charged. Identification takes
two days to a week.
Turf Sample
The turf sample is
examined microscopically for visible pathogenic fungal spores. It is then
plated out on one to
three media for fungal
growth. In 2 to 7 days the plates are examined microscopically for fungal
pathogens.
Sample with Suspected Viral Problem
The sample is examined visually for viral symptoms. If
confirmation of a specific virus is needed, an ELISA
(serological) test must be run.
Soil Pathogen Tests
A selective
media is used depending on the suspected pathogen. Call to make sure a
soil test is available for the
desired pathogen.
Plant samples are preferred to soil samples to detect a pathogen.
What is one sample?
One sample
is usually one plant or a group of plants with the same symptoms which can be
bulked for diagnostic purposes. If you need a
separate diagnosis for each plant in a group, then each plant counts as a sample
for fee purposes.
Research
Research projects
concerning disease control strategies or a desired topic are available.
Site Visit
Site visits allow a
better overall picture of your disease problem.
Due to limits of time and resources a presumptive diagnosis is made in diagnostic clinics. Diagnostic work is not inherently very quantitative. Generally only a small percentage of the total sample is used for isolation. Representative pieces of the tissue showing pathogenic symptoms are planted on the agar media. The procedure is analogous to a political opinion poll that comes to a conclusion based on a small sample of the total number of voters. In diagnostic work we also come to a conclusion as to the cause of a plant disease based on the organisms that grow that grow from a small set of tissuesshowing symptoms from the plant. A confirmatory diagnosis would require pathogenicity tests which are very time andresource consuming and are generally not done for a known disease. The fee is charged for the diagnostic process. Results may be negative.
The Handouts are available for
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To order, email Plant Disease Diagnosis, or call or fax (925) 937-3841.