Submitting Physical Specimens for Diagnosis

1. ​Collect fresh specimens. Send a generous amount of material, if available.
2. ​Ship in crush-proof container immediate​ly after collecting. If holdover periods are encountered, keep specimen cool. Mail packages to arrive on weekdays. Do not mail or ship samples on Friday, as we are not here to receive them over the weekend. We encourage you to send samples with priority or express delivery so we receive them in the best condition possible to provide you with the most accurate diagnosis.​​
3. ​​Incomplete information or poorly selected specimens may result in an inaccurate diagnosis. Badly damaged specimens are often unidentifiable and additional sample requests can cause delays.
4. Please double bag out-of-state samples to prevent escape of pathogens/pests during shipping.​

For general decline/dying of plants, send whole plants, showing early symptoms, with roots and adjacent soil intact. Dig up plant carefully. Send several plants. Bundle plants together and wrap roots in a plastic bag. Wrap the entire bundle of plants in newspaper and place in a crush-proof container for shipment. Do not add water.

Tree Wilts

Collect branches 1/2 to 1 inch in diameter from branches which are actively wilting but not totally dead. Wrap in plastic to retain moisture. Collect a handful of feeder roots and place in a plastic bag. Oak wilt samples require special handling.  Download our Collecting Samples for Oak Wilt Testing here.

Leaves/Branches/Fleshy Parts

When localized infections such as cankers, leaf spots and rots are involved, send specimens representing early and moderate stages of disease. For cankers include healthy portions from above and below diseased area. Press leaves flat between heavy paper or cardboard. Wrap fleshy parts in dry paper.

Turf

Samples should be at least 4"x4" and include both the diseased and healthy portions of grass on the same sample piece. Place the sample on aluminum foil and wrap tightly to keep soil off the blades of grass. Please use form PPDL-5-W for all turf submissions.

Click image to enlarge

1. Include a 6-10 inch sample of the terminal (tip) portion of the stem with side buds, leaves and flowers in identifiable condition.
2. Place the sample flat between a layer or two of dry newspaper, paper toweling or similar absorbent material. Try to prevent excessive folding of the leaves and place flowers so that you are looking into the center of the flower.
3. Pack the wrapped bundle in plastic, preferably with a piece of cardboard to keep the sample flat.
4. Never place any fresh plant sample directly in plastic.
5. Never add water to the sample.
6. Shake excess water from aquatic weed samples and place in plastic bag.
7. Wrap whole, uncut fruit specimens in paper, place in a strong box, and pack with additional paper to prevent crushing.
8. Package in sturdy crush-proof container and pack with additional paper to prevent shifting. See above photo.
9. The PPDL no longer has a faculty member working on algae and aquatic weeds. Please contact for a list of aquatic service companies for assistance with control.