UD Plant Diagnostic Clinic

Submission guidelines for the UD Plant Diagnostic Clinic

updated April 2023

Mail

Samples may be sent by mail to the address below, which is checked daily during weekdays.

We suggest overnighting, or mailing earlier in the week so samples do not sit in transit over the weekend.

The client must fill out the diagnostic form as completely as possible. This is a fillable PDF that can be filled out and printed.

Mail samples to:

Plant Diagnostic Clinic
531 S College Ave
151 Townsend Hall
Newark, DE 19716
 

Digital Images

• Digital images of plant problems for disease diagnosis should be submitted through the local county Extension agent.

  • New Castle County: Carrie Murphy (cjmurphy@udel.edu)

  • Kent County: Megan Pleasanton (mpleasanton@desu.edu) or Blake Moore (rbmoore@udel.edu)

  • Sussex County: Tracy Wootten (wootten@udel.edu)

• Three to four well-focused, quality images that show the pattern of the problem in the location, the overall symptoms on the whole plant, and a close-up image of the symptoms are recommended.
• The client must fill out the diagnostic form as completely as possible. This is a fillable PDF that can be saved and emailed to the county extension agent, with the photos.
• In some cases, a digital image is enough for a diagnosis, but we may request a physical sample to ensure an accurate diagnosis.

In some cases, a digital image is enough for a diagnosis and we may request a physical sample to ensure an accurate diagnosis.

Commercial Client Drop-off

• Commercial clients may drop off samples at our lab. To do so, A blue cooler is chained behind a pillar in front of Townsend Hall (531 S College Ave. Newark, DE 19716); the location is shown with an “X” in the image below.
• The box is checked daily on weekdays until 5 p.m.; samples may be dropped off after hours in the cooler.
• The client must complete the diagnostic form as completely as possible. This is a fillable PDF that can be filled out and printed. There are also forms in the drop box.

View our YouTube video playlist to learn more
about sample collecting

Here are some helpful hints and suggestions to help all of us to accurately and quickly diagnose plant disease and insect samples:

1. If a sample consists of just one or two leaves of an unknown plant or a dead brown branch, we probably will not be able to tell much.  Please request a new sample from the client.
2. Samples should be placed in a ziplock plastic bag. Samples in open plastic bags from grocery stores or paper are usually too dry by the time they get to Newark.
3. Wet, soft fruits or vegetables should be placed in dry paper towels and then double bagged in case they break down and leak.
4. Turfgrass samples should contain a margin between healthy and diseased, and should be a section of turf with a bit of soil underneath (4x4 inches is good). Plastic containers such as butter tubs or for left-overs work well as containers.
5. Anything sprayed with a pesticide should not be sampled and sent for at least 24 hours.
6. Insect identifications can be made from plants, household, or foundation habitats. Anything from a human body is not appropriate to send to Newark, and should be sent to the Department of Health.
7. Information filled in on the forms can be very helpful. Remember, this work is like doing a jigsaw puzzle. The more pieces we have, the easier it is to complete!

If you have insect diagnostic samples, please contact the Cooperative Extension Agent covering agriculture or horticulture for your Delaware county. 
 

CONTACT A County Agent

Soil test submission procedures have changed. For the latest soil testing information (including how to purchase kits and submit soil samples), please visit the Soil Testing Laboratory’s web page.
 

DELAWARE Soil Testing PROGRAM