Telehealth for plants? Sure! The MU Plant Diagnostic Clinic now offers a digital diagnosis service to help you quickly identify and address plant health problems. Although not all symptoms can be diagnosed with the digital services, many plant symptoms can.

Figure 1 A wheat plant showing yellow streaking symptoms indicating potential viral diseases.

Quality photos are key!

Plant health issues can stem from insects, pathogens, weeds, environmental stress, or improper care. Submitting photos of your affected plants saves time, reduces the cost of shipping physical samples and diagnostic service, and — most importantly — enables faster identification and treatment, helping you save your plants promptly. For example, damages caused by virus can be identified by symptoms shown in the photos (Figure 1). Instead of delivering physical samples to the clinic or an extension office, you can now submit your sample with a simple click.

Figure 2 A good example of a quality photo showing leaf curling and cupping symptoms of soybeans. Credit: Scott Wilburn

Figure 3 A bad example of a photo that is out of focus.

What are the important tips of taking photos?

• Take 4-6 photos per sample — the more pictures you provide, the better.
• Focus on the plant tissues showing symptoms or signs (Figure 2).
• Include all parts of the plant and take photos from different distances.
• Avoid blurry images — ensure the subject is clear and sharp (Figure 3).
• Double-check your photos before uploading.
• Complete all required information when filling out the online submission form.

Pictures are taken, where shall I upload them?

Once you are ready to submit your photos, visit MU Plant Diagnostic Clinic webpage and locate "Digital sample submission" tab on the right side (Figure 4).

Figure 4 A drag-down list of MU Plant Diagnostic Clinic services and the button that takes you to the sample form.

Click on the yellow box labeled "PLANT DISEASE DIGITAL SAMPLE FORM" to enter details about yourself and your sample. The more information you provide, the better our experts can diagnose the issue.

At the end of the form, you can upload up to five photos as attachments. After submitting, the form will be sent directly to the clinic's email, and our clinic staff will be notified immediately.

What happens next?

You'll receive a diagnosis response within 1-2 days. If the clinic is uncertain about the issue, they will forward your sample to another expert for further evaluation. If a physical sample or additional testing is necessary, the clinic staff will contact you.

Take advantage of this convenient, time-saving resource — submit your digital samples today!