If you're concerned about Plant Disease in your garden, landscape, farm or growing operation, the UConn Plant Diagnostic Lab is available to diagnose pathogens and make treatment recommendations based on the most current management methods. If you follow these few simple steps, you will ensure that the lab can get the best analysis for you.

 

Please note that the UConn Plant Diagnostic Lab will be closed from July 24th through August 1st. Please do not submit samples for disease diagnostics between July 21 and August 1st. Samples for plant and garden insect identification can still be processed by staff at the Home & Garden Education Center and we are happy to help you with other plant health questions!

 

 

Submitting A Sample to the UConn Plant Diagnostic Lab

Step 1 - Collect a quality sample

  • Select living, symptomatic plant tissue. Please do not send dry, dead, or decaying tissue!
  • If you’re sending roots, place them in a separate plastic bag & secure with a rubber band. This prevents soil from contaminating leaves

Good Sample Form - Examples

  • Cuttings that are still green, but show signs of the issue. An ideal sample will show progression from healthy to diseased tissue
A symptomatic garlic bulb with green stems, and purple streaks
A twig with healthy leaves as well as ones showing leaf distortion on the edges.
A small branch of a needled evergreen with green and yellow needles beside a fibrous roots in a ziploc bag

Poor Sample Form - Examples

  • The lab cannot analyze brown, dry, or rotting tissue. The lab cannot analyze animals, non-plant pests, or mulch chips, either
  • While the lab will test root tissue for pathogens, soil cannot be screened for disease or pests
  • Submitting material of this kind may result in poor testing results, require additional sampling or can delay your results
Dried twigs
An evergreen branch with brown, dried out needles that are completely dead
Mulch chips mixed with soil particles

Step 2 - Package your sample correctly

  • Place the sample into a sealed plastic bag with a dry paper towel to avoid excess moisture. Please don’t add water or wet paper towel!

Step 3 - Prepare your sample for transport

  • Protect your sample(s) by shipping them in a crush-proof container, preferably a box
  • Complete the Sample Form and make sure it is in the box with your plant sample
  • If planning to pay by check, please send payment with the sample at the time of submission. A standard sample is $20 and checks can be made out to the University of Connecticut. Alternatively, the lab can also take payment online at http://s.uconn.edu/pay

Step 4 - Submit your sample

Submitting via Mail

To make sure we receive your sample as fresh as possible, ship package via overnight delivery. It is best to ship packages early in the week. If you have a tracking number, please send that information to ladybug@uconn.edu so we can check with University Mail Services when it arrives.

Please do not ship over the weekend or holidays.

Mail your samples to:
UConn Plant Diagnostic Lab
1380 Storrs Road, U-4115
Storrs, CT 06269-4115

Submitting via Drop-Off

Handicap entrance of the Radcliffe Hicks Buillding with the UConn Home & Garden Education Center sign

Bring Samples to the UConn Home & Garden Education Center

Ratcliffe-Hicks Building
1380 Storrs Road, Unit 4115
Storrs, CT 06269-4115

Step 5 - Receive your confirmation email

  • In a few days, you will receive an e-mail receipt notifying you that your sample is in the database and will soon be analyzed. This receipt will assign you a sample number that you may use if you contact us regarding the sample. All communications regarding your sample will come from plantdiagnosticlab@uconnn.edu 

A screenshot of a sample receipt email with the sample number circled in red
The sample receipt notifies you that our plant diagnostic lab has received the sample, provides a tracking number, and ensures that we have the correct contact information when it's time to send you your results!

Step 6 - Allow time for testing

  • The standard response time is 5-7 business days October-May and up to 12 business days June-September after the sample has arrived in the lab, but diagnostics may take longer given slower mail operations and other restrictions.

Step 7 - Get your results

  • Once your sample is diagnosed and confirmed by our plant pathologist, we will send you a detailed report summarizing tests performed, diagnosis, and recommendations. If you have additional questions, the UConn Home Garden Education Center is here to help!

A screenshot of a diagnostic report email with no pathogen found as a result
Lucky for Jonathan, no pathogen was found here! The report goes on to suggest other factors that he may want to consider in his landscape. If a pathogen were found, the report would include recommendations for management and prevention.