About the clinic
The clinic was established in 1965 primarily to support county extension specialists as they sought answers to plant health questions for their local clientele. While most samples still come from county extension offices, the clinic receives samples from agencies, businesses and private citizens.
Initially, the clinic handled only samples submitted for disease identification, but in recent years has handled insect and weed identifications.
Approximately 90 percent of the samples are submitted between May and September.
Nematode samples (other than pine wilt) are handled by the Plant Nematology Laboratory.
The day to day operations of the clinic (receiving samples, answering phones, diagnosis of samples submitted for disease identification and reporting) are handled by staff in the clinic. Other Plant Science Unit Extension Faculty from the departments of Agronomy, Entomology, Horticulture, Plant Microbiology and Pathology handle the identification of insects and weeds as well as assist when needed.
Mission statement
The mission of the clinic is to provide accurate, timely answers and management recommendations to plant health questions and problems encountered by the citizens of Missouri. Management recommendations reflect research-based results and an integrated pest management philosophy.
The mission is accomplished through:
- Daily operation of the clinic
- Most samples submitted through the mail, some digital image submissions
and personally delivered samples
- 25 percent of samples submitted through regional extension specialists
- 75 percent of samples submitted through other agencies, businesses
or by private citizens
- Plant pathology education
- Training to extension specialists
- Master Gardener training
- Contributions to newsletters
- Conferences and short courses
- Other invited seminars and presentations
Clinic staff
- Manjula Nathan
Director of Soil Testing and Plant Diagnostic Laboratories
- Simeon Wright
Coordinator Plant Disease Clinic
General plant health diagnosis and management
These Division of Plant Sciences faculty support the efforts of the Plant Diagnostic Clinic
- Kevin Bradley
Identification of plants and weeds and weed control recommendations, diagnosis of herbicide injuries.
- Manjula Nathan
Nutrient, soil analysis and fertility recommendations
- Bill Wiebold
Management of cultural problems of field crops
- Wayne Bailey
Identification and management recommendations of field crop pests
- Bruce Barrett
Identification and management recommendations of fruit, landscape, turf, and vegetable pests
- Richard Houseman
Identification and management recommendations of urban and structural pests
- Brad Fresenburg
Turfgrass management recommendations
- Christopher Starbuck
Identification of woody ornamental plants, management recommendations for cultural problems of woody ornamentals - Travis Teuton
Turfgrass management recommendations
- David Trinklein
Management recommendations for cultural problems of greenhouse crops
- Michele Warmund
Management recommendations for cultural problems of fruit crops - Jeanne Mihail
Identification of fungal pathogens
- Jim Schoelz
Virus testing
- Laura Sweets
Management recommendations for diseases of field crops
Updated 6/24/09