Your local specialist can help you, but now for the bad news

Published: May 1, 2010

MU's Plant Diagnostic Clinic will be closed for this year's growing season. Why? The clinic's former director (Simeon Wright) has taken another job, and the search is on for his replacement. Unfortunately this is expected to take until September before the clinic is ready to go again. Simeon was highly regarded by the extension specialists out in the counties for being timely, professional and straightforward with his responses. Good luck to whoever is coming in behind him!

The picture shows some newly set tomatoes in a high tunnel. Some are stunted and wilted (some died) and healthy ones are in the background. Pythium root rot was diagnosed, aggravated by a high salt level at one end of the tunnel.

We appreciate and understand that many growers rely on visits from their local specialist to aide them in correctly diagnosing an insect pest or disease, or some other complicating factor. This does not change for the growing season. And for the majority of these type of visits/situations, additional diagnostic work is not necessary.

However, some do take additional diagnostic work (note the photo and caption). For this year, we're suggesting you submit to Iowa State University (ISU), a partner on this project (see lead article on front page). Since your sample is not part of MU's services, you'll have to submit directly to their clinic. Your local specialist can assist by printing off their submission form and other information needed to send your sample in correctly. Their contact information is:

ISU Plant and Insect Diagnostic Clinic
327 Bessey Hall
Ames, IA 50010
pidc@iastate.edu
515/294-0581
http://www.ent.iastate.edu/pidc/
Standard charge is $20.