The UF-IFAS Plant Diagnostic Center and Rapid Turfgrass Diagnostic Service are closed 12/25 - 1/1. Emergency diagnostic issues should be emailed to CLHARMON@UFL.EDU during this time. For non-emergencies, please hold off on collecting and sending any samples until after 1/1. We wish you peaceful holidays!
The UF PDC and RTDS will be closed following UF holiday closures December 21-January 1. To accommodate this schedule, please plan to collect and ship samples to arrive at the lab by Dec 13. Samples received by December 13 will receive full workup and report, while samples received Dec 16-20 will receive triage observation reports only. Please hold off on sampling and shipping between Dec 20 and Jan 1. We wish you healthy plants and happy holidays!
The UF/IFAS Plant Diagnostic Center is located in Gainesville, FL on the University of Florida's main campus. Our mission is to provide plant diagnostic knowledge and services to solve plant health problems. You can tour our lab virtually here, and find information about other diagnostic services here. Our lab is part of and accredited by the National Plant Diagnostic Network.
PRIMARY SERVICES PROVIDED
- Identify plant infectious causal agent
- Plant pathogenic mushroom identification
SERVICES PROVIDED UPON SPECIAL REQUEST
The following procedures are available upon specific request and only after discussion with PDC staff. These procedures are both time-consuming and more costly than the normal sample charge; please see our website for up-to-date listing of tests available and pricing.
- Phytosanitary testing; please confirm specific tests are available at PDC@IFAS.UFL.EDU prior to sampling and sending samples.
- Pythium and Phytophthora determinations from irrigation water or growing media by baiting and culturing methods.
- Molecular diagnosis of crown gall, Xylella fastidiosa, viruses, citrus greening, laurel wilt, or sudden oak death/ramorum blight. Other tests are available; please inquire at PDC@IFAS.UFL.EDU prior to sending samples.
SERVICES NOT PROVIDED
Presently, the PDC does not routinely provide the following service:
- Pesticide residue determinations in or on plants and soil. (please refer to FDACS Pesticides)
- Soil nutrient levels, soluble salt analysis, or plant tissue analysis for macro or minor elements. (please refer to the UF Soils Lab)
- Microbe identification from non-plant samples.
- Toxic plant identifications or mycotoxin analysis.
- Plant Identification
- Insect Identification (please refer to the Insect ID Lab)
- Nematode Analysis (please refer to Nematode Assay Lab)
- Species-level determination of pathogens unless lab director and sample submitter have discussed and agreed that it is needed and possible.
- Ganoderma testing from sawdust (please refer to Fort Lauderdale Research Education Center)
- Home visits (please refer to your local extension agent)