Plant Diagnostic Clinic
573-882-3019

Submit a physical sample

Provide background information about the problem by using the correct form. Although all sections will not be applicable to every sample, the form should be filled out as completely as possible. Keep a copy of the completed form for your records so you can contact your client when you receive the report from the clinic.

Note

Include a check made payable to University of Missouri. The Plant Diagnostic Clinic reserves the right to assess minimum fees by prior arrangement for firms or individuals submitting large numbers of samples for special testing.
Additional requirements for samples submitted from outside Missouri
- Ship in a sturdy escape-proof container.
- Double seal potentially infected plant materials in heavy plastic bags (e.g. 2 zip-lock freezer bags).
No samples are accepted from outside the United States.

Find out what's wrong with a plant

General diagnosis
- Visual exam, microscopic observation for disease-causing organisms and if needed incubation in a moist chamber.
- $15 per sample including residential turf
- $25 per a sample of commercial turf
- $50 per a sample of putting green
Additional tests
If one of these tests is necessary to arrive at a diagnosis, there will be an an additional charge.
- Fungal isolation
  - Dutch elm disease, oak wilt, phythophthora root rot and verticillium wilt
  - $10 additional fee
- Bacterial isolation
  - Identifyt bacterial pathogens using standard isolation techniques
  - $10 additional fee
- Virus testing
  - Limited to virus testing using serological methods
  - $10 additional fee
Send
Plant Disease Identification Form PDF
Turfgrass Disease Identification Form RTF
to:

Plant Disease Identification
University of Missouri
23 Mumford Hall
Columbia, MO 65211

Insect or arachnid identification

$15 per sample
Send Insect/Mite Identification Form PDF to

Insect/Mite Identification
University of Missouri
23 Mumford Hall
Columbia, MO 65211

Plant identification

$15 per sample
Send Plant/Weed Identification Form PDF to

Weed/Plant Identification
University of Missouri
23 Mumford Hall
Columbia, MO 65211

What to send to find out what's wrong

Include a healthy example for comparison when possible. Include enough of the plant to clearly indicate whether the symptoms are occurring on old or new growth. Above ground symptoms often result from a problem occurring in the lower stem or roots, so it's best to send entire plants when feasible. Dig plants to leave roots intact in a soil ball and prevent drying. With larger specimens, try to sample from the transition zone between healthy and affected tissue.

Special instructions for turfgrass
Take plugs at least 4 inches across with a cup cutter or knife to a depth to include the roots. Always include a diseased plug, a healthy plug, and one plug from the transition zone between healthy and affected turf.
Special instructions for Dutch elm disease, oak wilt and other vascular wilts
Submit live branches 1-2 inches in diameter, cut from areas of the tree that are just beginning to show symptoms. Include leaves. For oak wilt detection, submit branches exhibiting streaking in the sapwood. Keep samples cool during shipment by packing with ice packs.
Special instructions for pine wilt nematode
Submit branch pieces at least 1/2 inch in diameter and 3 to 4 inches long, taken from a branch expressing symptoms or segments of the trunk from trees that have recently died.

What to send for plant identification

Herbaceous plants (plants with green and/or soft tissue stems that die back each year) or grasses
Whenever feasible the entire plant should be dug, not pulled, from the soil so that the roots or a representative portion, remain relatively intact to a depth of approximately 4-5 inches. If rhizomes, bulbs or tubers are present be sure to include these with the basal portion of the plant. If the plant is flowering or fruiting (seeding) send a portion of this part of the plant. Tall plants can be folded once or twice or cut into shorter lengths (for shipping purposes).

Woody plants -- trees, shrubs, woody vines
It is necessary to have a terminal or end portion of a leafy branch with at least five leaves or buds if collected in fall or winter. If flowers or fruit are present, these should be included. Fresh or dried leaves or fruit found beneath the tree, shrub, or vine and known to come from the same plant, are also valuable. If thorns are present, be sure they are represented in the samples. If the plant is a woody vine, a portion of the vine bearing representative leaves, tendrils (if present) that wrap around other plants or other supports enabling the plant to climb, and flowers or fruits (seeds), if present, should be included.

Note
Leaves of dicots or so-called broad-leafed plants may be of two types, i.e., simple or compound. Because of this it is inadvisable to send for identification what appears to be a single leaf. Unless it is unusually distinctive and/or from a very common plant, it does not, as a rule, provide enough information to permit accurate identification.

Packaging plant materials for shipment

Fresh samples should be wrapped in dry paper to absorb moisture and placed in a plastic bag. If roots are included, insert the root-soil ball in a plastic bag and tie around stem to avoid soil contact with leaves while in transit. Then wrap the entire sample in paper and place in a plastic bag. Do not add moisture to packing materials. Pack samples firmly in the shipping container.

Packaging insects for shipment

Submit only dead insects for identification; and pack them so they arrive unbroken. Badly damaged specimens are often unidentifiable, and a request for additional specimens could cause a great time delay. Insects differ greatly in body form and require two different preservation techniques.

Sending soft-bodied insects
Aphids, thrips, mites, cutworms, caterpillars, fleas, ants, ticks, spiders, grubs, and tiny or otherwise soft-bodied insects are best submitted in 70 percent alcohol (Rubbing (isopropyl) alcohol is suitable). Place the specimen in alcohol in a leak-proof container. Do not send specimens in water, formaldehyde or without fluid.

Sending hard-bodied insects
To submit beetles, flies, grasshoppers, cockroaches, wasps, moths, butterflies and other hard-boded insects, kill them by freezing them or by exposing them to alcohol fumes. Submit them dry in a crush proof container. Place dead specimens between layers of tissue or cotton in a small pill box or other small container. Identify the box with the client's name, if possible.

Tips

Don't tape specimens to paper.
Don't ship live insects or mites.
Don't send only one specimen if more are available.
Don't place loose insects in envelopes
Don't use water or formaldehyde as a preservative.
Mail early in the week.
Always use at least first class mail.
A next day service or delivery in person is the best way to assure that the sample arrives in good order.
Cucurbits and tobacco plants are very perishable and should always be sent by next day service.
Do make every effort to send materials as soon as possible after collecting.
Do make every effort to assure the best quality specimen(s) are available for identification.
Do use appropriate form and fill out as completely as possible.
Don't carry plants around in vehicle for days before submitting.
Don't add wet paper towels and excess moisture to packages.
Don't leave plants or insect specimens in a parked vehicle with the windows up on a sunny day.

Updated 4/19/07