Plant Clinics Provide Answers

Plant Clinics Provide Answers When homeowners or farmers have a problem with plants, the place to go is the state’s Plant Diagnostic Clinic. Every state has one. Clinics, like the South Dakota State University Plant Diagnostic Clinic, were created in response to biosecurity problems after 9/11 with funding from the federal government, according to Madalyn Shires, SDSU plant pathology specialist and assistant professor. “We provide an accurate diagnosis for farmers, homeowners and the South Dakota Department of Agriculture and Natural Resources,” says Shires. “In larger states, ag departments have their own labs, but we and others work together.” For Shires and her associates, the biggest question currently involves soybean cyst nematodes and viruses in winter and spring wheat. She adds that they’re also looking at horticultural diseases. “Farmers with a question may ask their agronomist to take a tissue sample and send it to us or call us directly,” says Shires. “They can share their concerns, and sometimes, if they send a picture, that’s enough for us to diagnose.” If a picture doesn’t suffice, the farmer or homeowner may be asked to take a sample, sometimes an entire plant. Standard instructions are to wrap the plant in dry paper towels. “Dry towels, or even wrapping them in newspaper, absorb any moisture given off, especially if the sample is in a plastic bag,” says Shires. She notes that vegetables often provide the most novel samples and a more challenging diagnosis. “We had a parsnip that looked like it had tumors,” says Shires. “The problem was nematodes that were eating and reproducing in the plant.” Wheat mosaic virus is currently a problem in South Dakota. “It’s carried by a mite that feeds on plants,” says Shires. “We had a mild winter, so the mites were able to stay active longer.” If the clinic identifies the virus on samples from a field, they recommend breaking what they call the green bridge. “Remove volunteer wheat and other hosts,” says Shires. “We do a lot of screening and observation to get real-time data to solve the problem.” Contact: FARM SHOW Followup, SDSU Plant Diagnostic Clinic, Berg Agricultural Hall 203, Box 2207D, Brookings, S.D. 57007 (ph 605-688-5545; sdsu.pc@sdstate.edu; https://www.sdstate.edu/agronomy-horticulture-plant-science/sdsu-plant-diagnostic-clinic) or Madalyn Shires, SDSU Assistant Professor/Plant Pathology Specialist (ph 605-651-5631; Madalyn.Shires@sdstate.edu).

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