Diagnostics for Plant Problems

Correct diagnosis of a problem and correct identification of the pest (insect, disease, abiotic factor, nutrition, etc.) causing the problem are key to successful crop management and profitability. Below is a list of laboratories that offer disease diagnostics on a free or fee-for-service basis. When submitting a sample, remember to specify whether you are looking for insect, disease, or weed (or other) identification in case more than one organism and/or symptom is present on your sample. Also, provide as complete a description of the problem as possible including crop, symptoms, distribution within the field or greenhouse, and unique characteristics of the location. Commercial growers will receive different recommendations than home gardeners. Please indicate if you are an organic grower. In general, virus screening is limited to a small group of common viruses; further analysis is  referred to specialized laboratories. Contact your local  lab or your state Extension Vegetable Specialist for more information.

In order to submit a sample for diagnosis, some basic preparation instructions should be followed, including:

• Collect specimens that show a range of symptoms (i.e., from healthy to severely affected), usually collected from the margin of the affected area. Avoid specimens that are completely dead or decayed as they are not diagnostically useful.
• Fill out the sample submission form provided by the lab. This is very important. Without detailed information about the problem, a correct diagnosis is very difficult.
• Pack specimens in dry paper and place in a plastic bag (never pack with wet paper towels or add water).
• Mail specimen and submission form using same-day or overnight delivery or deliver specimen personally the same day. If this is not possible, place in a refrigerator and mail or deliver the following day. Specimens should come to the diagnostic labs early in the week to avoid problems with weekend holdovers.

Plant Diagnostic Clinics of New England

(D = plant disease identification, I = insect identification, N = nematode analysis, W = weed identification)

Connecticut

UConn Plant Diagnostic Lab (D,I,N,W)

Jones Bldg., Room 004

27A Manter Road, Unit 4115

Storrs, CT 06269-4115

877-486-6271

https://plant.lab.uconn.edu/

Cost:  $20

The Plant Disease Information Office (D,I,N, W)

The Connecticut Agricultural Experiment Station

Jenkins-Waggoner Laboratory 123 Huntington Street, P.O. Box 1106

New Haven, CT 06511

203-974-8601; 877-855-2237 toll-free outside New Haven area

www.ct.gov/caes

Cost: No fee (CT residents only)

Maine

Plant Disease Diagnostic Lab (D,I,N)

Pest Management Unit

17 Godfrey Drive

Orono, ME 04473-3692

800-287-0279 (within Maine) or (207) 581-3880 (outside Maine)  

www.extension.umaine.edu/ipm/ipddl

Cost: $18 for Maine residents, $38 for out-of-state residents

Massachusetts

Plant Disease Diagnostic Laboratory (D,I,N,W)

UMass Extension Plant Diagnostic Lab

#3 French Hall, 230 Stockbridge Road

Amherst, MA 01003

(413) 545-3208 fax: (413) 545-4385

http://ag.umass.edu/diagnostics

Cost: $50

New Hampshire

Plant Disease Diagnostic Lab (D,I)

34 Sage Way 

Durham, NH 03824 

603-862-3043 

https://extension.unh.edu/agriculture-gardens/pest-disease-growing-tools/plant-diagnostic-lab  

Cost: $20 for regular diagnosis; $60 for molecular diagnosis

Rhode Island

Plant Diagnostic Lab (D,I,W)

URI Cooperative Extension

3 East Alumni Avenue

Kingston, RI 02881

(401) 874-2900  fax: (401)874-2259

https://web.uri.edu/coopext/ppc/

Cost: $20

Vermont

University of Vermont Plant Diagnostic Clinic (D,I,W)

UVM Plant Diagnostic Clinic

201 Jeffords Hall,

63 Carrigan Drive

Burlington, VT 05405

(802) 656-0493 

https://www.uvm.edu/extension/pdc

Cost: No charge for VT residents only