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Plant Disease ClinicAbout the Clinic • Where Are We Located? • Submitting Plant Samples • Services • Our Staff • Other Resources Despite all of the tender loving care that you give your plants, they may get sick for various reasons. Accurate plant disease identification is the first step in planning an effective disease control program to preserve or maintain a healthy plant. Some diseases may be the result of a living microorganism attacking the plant or it may be from an adverse growing environment. Diagnosis of plant ailments is an art and a science in which improvement results from practice. There is no substitute for the experience gained in disease diagnosis. There are literally hundreds of diseases that attack plants in Arkansas and your local county Extension agent can identify many of them. But don't worry if it is rare or unusual, we have back up for our agents. The Plant Disease Diagnostic Clinic at Lonoke, is the next step in the identification of your diseases. If the county agent is unable to identify the "culprit", he will send your plant sample along with some background information to the clinic at Lonoke. Once received, Extension plant disease diagnostician Sherrie Smith will get to work on it. The clinic evaluates all types of plants ranging from agricultural row crops, to sod production to home fruits and vegetables, to the potted plant on your deck. This is currently a free service to the residents of Arkansas. The Plant Disease clinic provides routine plant disease diagnosis for the state of Arkansas. Out-of-state plant samples are also evaluated on an as-needed basis. The main objectives of the clinic are: (1) Provide an accurate diagnosis of all manner of plant problems in an expedient manner, and (2) serve as an information source for Extension personnel, commercial growers, and homeowners regarding plant disease and insects topics. The clinic opened in June 1992 and is housed in the University of Arkansas, Lonoke Agricultural Extension and Research Center. This central location provides a much-needed service to agricultural producers and home gardeners. The clinic is for all plants--from row crops, to sod production to home fruits and vegetables, to the potted plant on your deck, and is currently a free service to Arkansas residents. Plant disease diagnosis is both an art and science and often involves solving a mystery. The more information available about the sample, the quicker and more accurate the diagnosis will be. Correct diagnosis relies on the quality of the sample that is sent in and a completed information sheet (AGRI-420). This form is available in each county office. The purpose for accurate, rapid diagnosis is that the grower has a better chance of managing the problem and, more importantly, preventing the problem in the future. Extension specialists in Entomology, Weed Science, Agronomy, and Horticulture assist in diagnosis. Other Extension Plant Pathology colleagues include: Dr. Stephen Vann, Extension Urban Plant Pathologist (Little Rock State Office), Dr. Rick Cartwright (UA Fayetteville campus), Cliff Coker (Southeast Research and Extension Center at Monticello), and Dr. Terry Kirkpatrick (Southwest Research and Extension Center at Hope). The clinic often collaborates with other plant pathology and horticulture staff members located on the main campus at Fayetteville. Vegetables, ornamentals, trees, and row crops constitute the majority of samples sent in for diagnosis, however the clinic also evaluates fruits, nuts and turf. Average turn around time is one to three days after the sample arrives. We encourage samples to be submitted from the county Extension offices with an accompanying submission form AGRI-420, however samples may be sent direct from the client. Walk-in samples are also accepted. If you do suspect a plant disease, carry the sample to your local Extension office. In many instances one of the Extension agents may be able to diagnose the problem in the office. No charge is levied for disease diagnostic services for Arkansas residents. Out -of-state residents should call for information. Diagnostic specimen information is stored in a computer database. An annual summary report is prepared and made available to Extension offices, university personnel, and other interested individuals. The plant disease clinic is also very active in conducting educational programs throughout the state. It not only provides a diagnostic service, but also serves as an important vehicle in knowledge transfer relating to disease topics. For more information about the Plant Disease Clinic, please contact:
The Plant Disease Clinic is located in Lonoke, Arkansas approximately 26 miles east of Little Rock, off Interstate 40. Exit at #175, proceed south on Highway 31 for approximately 1.5 miles, left at the stoplight in downtown Lonoke onto Highway 70. Proceed east approximately 1 mile toward Carlisle. The clinic is located in the University of Arkansas, Lonoke Agricultural Extension and Applied Research building on the right, next to the Arkansas National Guard Armory. The street address is:
(1) Submit only freshly collected specimens. If possible collect several
specimens showing a progression of symptoms. Keep specimens refrigerated until
shipment.
Shipping Plant Samples
Macroscopic/Microscopic Evaluation and lab culture
Nematode Identification Ask the Experts Staff
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