Diagnostic Support

IPM Florida recommends that for assistance in diagnosing plant health problems it is best to work through a local county Extension office (http://ifas.ufl.edu/extension-offices-rec-maps.shtml). The UF/IFAS Extension personnel located throughout Florida often can immediately identify pests and provide management options. They are familiar with specific identification and management guides that are available in the UF/IFAS Extension Digital Information Source (EDIS) database (http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/). They also frequently conduct local plant pest and disease diagnostic clinics. The Extension personnel will require that samples be obtained and handled according to the instructions in the following EDIS documents.

GENERAL

http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/topic_pest_identification_and_services

 

Pest Identification and Services

 

INSECTS

http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/sr010

 

Insect Identification Service

    L. J. Buss

    The primary goal of the UF/IFAS Insect Identification Laboratory is to identify insects quickly so that appropriate management options can be selected. It is essential to correctly identify the insect before deciding to use a prevention or mitigation measure.

PLANT DISEASES

http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/sr007 (http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/pp151)

 

Sample Submission Guide for Plant Diagnostic Clinics of the Florida Plant Diagnostic Network

    A. J. Palmateer, C. M. Stiles, P. D. Roberts, R. E. Cullen, H. Dankers, R. J. McGovern, N. Peres, P. F. Harmon, and C. L. Harmon

    The primary role of the UF/IFAS Florida Extension Plant Diagnostic Clinics (FEPDC) is to determine whether symptoms in submitted plant samples involve an infectious causal agent, e.g., fungus, bacterium or virus, or other cultural or environmental factor that causes similar symptoms. The goal of the FEPDC system is to educate clientele by providing plant disease and disorder diagnoses and recommendations for preventative and therapeutic measures.

 

NEMATODES

http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/sr011

 

Florida Nematode Sampling Instructions

    W. T. Crow, T. Mengistu, and F. E. Woods

    Instructions are provided for carefully collecting and submitting samples to the UF/IFAS Nematode Assay Laboratory. Some nematode problems can be accurately diagnosed in the field but laboratory assay of soil and roots is usually necessary to confirm field observations. The accuracy of the results is directly related to the quality of the sample.

 

Weeds

http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/sr013 (http://weedext.ifas.ufl.edu/)

 

Plant Identification and Information Service

    N. H. Williams

    The UF Herbarium in the Florida Museum of Natural History maintains a plant identification and information service for the use of Extension and research personnel and the general public. The staff of the Herbarium will assist in providing information, such as scientific names and authors for cultivated plants, weeds, and native species, their common names, ranges, dates of flowering, and possible human or animal toxicity.

 

SOIL

http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/ss312

 

UF/IFAS Extension Soil Testing Laboratory (ESTL) Analytical Procedures and Training Manual

    R. S. Mylavarapu

    The UF/IFAS Extension Soil Testing Laboratory provides chemical analyses of inorganic soils, container media, plant tissue nutrients, and irrigation water samples for all Florida residents. Testing is restricted to samples originating from the state of Florida. Requests for testing of animal manures should be sent to UF/IFAS Livestock Waste Testing Laboratory at the North Florida Research and Education Center- Suwannee in Live Oak, FL. Drinking water, sewage sludges, wastewater effluent, sludges from water-treatment facilities, and hazardous chemical or biological materials in water or soil are analyzed by other governmental or private laboratories.

 

DISTANCE DIAGNOSTICS

http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/ae225 (http://ddis.ifas.ufl.edu/)

 

Distance Diagnostic and Identification System (DDIS)

    The UF/IFAS Distance Diagnostic and Identification System (DDIS) is designed specifically for university agricultural specialists and diagnostic laboratories or clinics. DDIS provides a collaboration and communication platform for first detectors, Extension specialists and diagnosticians to share information on plant insects and diseases. The system uses field data and digital media for diagnosis of plant disease, insect, weed, invasive species, and plant management, physiology, and nutrient problems. Specialists around the state can perform diagnosis and identification and provide the best management options.