How to submit a quality sample to the NDSU Plant Diagnostic Lab

Making the Most of Plant and

Insect Diagnostics

Pat Beauzay, Extension Entomology Research

Specialist

Kasia Kinzer, Plant Diagnostician

Services Offered by the NDSU

Plant Diagnostic Lab

• Plant problem diagnosis (pathogen, pest, abiotic)

• Weed ID, Insect ID (with Extension Entomology)

• Home Mold/Fungus ID

• Seed Health Testing (fee waivers do not apply)

• Phytosanitary Testing (fee waivers do not apply)

• Methods: visual, microscopy, incubation, culturing,

ELISA, immunostrip, DNA-based testing, bioassay,

nematode extraction

Plant Diagnostic Lab Information

Request Form

• NDSU Plant Diagnostic Lab forms available

on-line:

• http://www.ag.ndsu.edu/pdl

• Please fill the form out as completely as

possible

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What makes a good sample?

• Quality background information is provided

• Sample is fresh

• Sample is representative

Obtain A Good Sample

Examples of Good samples:

– Good Quality – with as much background information as possible; more information = better quality

– Kept Fresh and cool until brought/mailed in

– Representative – shows a range of symptoms of concern

• Includes healthy tissue whenever possible

• Includes entire plant whenever possible

• Includes an idea of what is ‘normal’

Obtain A Good Sample

Quality Background Information

• What is the host?

• What is the concern?

• When and how was it planted?

• Pattern of symptoms within plant?

• Field distribution or pattern within the planting:

• When were symptoms first noticed?

• Soil type, cultural practices, chemical history, crop history, environmental conditions, et cetera

• The more completely the form is filled out, the better

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Fresh Samples

• Collect whole plants whenever possible

• Keep them cool until ready to ship

– Save them in the fridge like you would a head

of lettuce – wrapped in a dry paper towel,

then placed inside a plastic bag

• Don’t include only dead plants

Representative Samples• Choose plants that show a range of

symptoms

Dead Plants Tell no Tales

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Avoid sending completely

dead plants

Choose plants which show

a range of symptoms

Preparing samples for

shipping

Sending bigger samples

Keep soil away from foliage

Packaging and Shipping blunders

Don’t add water to foliage or wrap in wet paper towels

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“Sample Soup”

Packaging & Shipping

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Good Intentions

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Actual Results

What about High Risk Pests??

Sample Security – important for high

risk pests

• Communication – early contact with diagnostic labs and

regulatory officials to let us know a pest or disease problem

suspected to be high risk is on its way

• Confidentiality – don’t alert media unless confirmed and given

the okay from regulatory officials

• Accuracy – make sure source information is correct

• Chain of custody – keep track of when/how/to whom

sample was sent

• Delivery details – Let Plant Diagnostic Lab know where

sample is coming from, how it is being sent, and expected

arrival time

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Secure sample submission

• Avoid contaminating outside of bags

• Double bag in re-sealable bags and seal,

then place in a sturdy box

• Seal all seams of box with shipping tape

• Ship via overnight mail or drive to state

diagnostic lab to deliver personally

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Send Suspected High Risk

Samples to:

USPSNDSU Plant Diagnostic LabNDSU Dept 7660PO Box 6050Fargo ND 58108-6050

Ground/Private ShipperNDSU Plant Diagnostic Lab306 Walster HallFargo, ND 58102

Tel: 701.231.7854

Email: ndsu.pdl@ndsu.edu

Resources

• NDSU Plant Diagnostic Lab– http://www.ag.ndsu.edu/pdl

• NDSU Extension Departments – http://www.ag.ndsu.edu/extplantpath/

– http://www.ag.ndsu.edu/extensionentomology/

– http://www.ag.ndsu.edu/plantsciences/extension

– http://www.ndsu.edu/soils/

– http://www.ndsu.edu/snrs/extension/

• North Dakota Department of Agriculture– http://www.nd.gov/ndda/

• NPDN First Detector Training, online modules:– https://firstdetector.org

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If we have time…

Weed Samples

• Collect intact specimens

• Preserve and package sample

properly

• Provide information on where sample

was found

• Send suspected exotics in overnight

mail32

Weed Samples

Send all plant parts• Stems

• Roots if possible

• Whole leaves attached to stem

• Any flowers, fruits, or seeds

• Different growth stages

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Weed Samples

To preserve plant samples, press and

dry in newspaper

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Soil Samples (Nematodes)

1. Use a soil probe to collect samples (6 to 8

inches in depth).

2. Using a zigzag pattern, collect 10 to 20

soil cores per every 10 to 20 acres.

3. Collect cores from areas of similar soil

type and crop history, and near or within

rows, if visible.

35*from the SCN Coalition

Soil Samples (Nematodes)

4. Dump cores from each 10- to 20-acre set

into a bucket or tub and mix thoroughly.

5. Place 1 pint (2 cups, about 500 cc) of

mixed soil in a soil sampling bag or plastic

zippered bag and label with a permanent

marker.

6. Store sample in a cool, dark place until

shipped to the lab.

36*from the SCN Coalition

For Any Sample:

• Clear, close-up digital photos can be

helpful

• There’s no such thing as too much

information – the more information, the

better quality the sample

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