Clinic Update: Early Summer Samples Submitted to the Plant Diagnostic Clinic

Over the past few weeks, the diagnostic clinic has had several tree samples submitted for diagnosis. We continue to see anthracnose on a variety of species including different species of oaks, maples and ash.

Quince rust on hawthorn Photo by Simeon Wright

Hawthorn fruit infected with Quince rust Photo by Simeon Wright

Dutch elm disease has been positively identified on one sample. A pin oak and Chinese chestnut have been confirmed positive for oak wilt. We have had cedar quince rust on hawthorn, brown spot needle blight on Scotch pine and leaf scorch on dogwood. In addition, we have had a couple samples with herbicide injuries.

Aecia of quince rust on hawthorn Photo by Simeon Wright

Fruits and vegetables are beginning to produce, and we have received samples of apples, peaches and apricots with plum curculio damage. A grape sample had a phytotoxic response from a copper sulfate application. In addition, we’ve had apple, crabapple, and pear submissions with fireblight.

Blackberry samples with blackberry psyllid causing a leaf curl and thrips damage causing discolored druplets have been submitted. We’ve also had cantaloupe with Alternaria leaf blight, as well as watermelon samples with spider mite injury and Fusarium wilt. There have also been tomato submissions with bacterial leaf spot, early blight and herbicide injury as well as sweet corn with common smut.

We’ve received fewer ornamental plant samples. We have had a rose with rose rosette virus, hosta with sunscald and hydrangea with Phytophthora crown and root rot.

A few turf samples have been submitted, including zoysia samples with billbug and chinchbug damage and tall fescue with Rhizoctonia brown patch. The insect submissions we have received have been soldier beetles, springtails and subterranean termites. We look forward to receiving your samples. Please refer to the sample submission section of our website for more information on sample submission.

Simeon Wright
Plant Diagnostic Clinic
573-882-3019