Plant Disease Diagnostics Clinic
The University of Wisconsin-Madison/Extension Plant Disease Diagnostics Clinic (PDDC) provides assistance in identifying plant diseases and provides educational information on plant diseases and their control. Recent activities have included evaluating pea fields for their potential for root rot issues, evaluating soybean fields for soybean cyst nematode, assisting and educating homeowners about late blight of tomato and potato, providing training for Master Gardeners and providing continuing education for horticulture professionals (e.g., arborists, landscapers, greenhouse growers).
Outcomes
Information from the PDDC is used by agricultural producers to increase their profitability. Pretesting for pea root potential can help canning companies avoid planting peas in fields where disease is likely. This saves canning companies the cost of planting and production in problematic fields, and prevents potential yield losses. Similarly, soybean cyst nematode (SCN) can lead to 50% (or higher) yield losses. Identification of infested fields can lead to management practices (e.g., rotation and use of resistant varieties) that can limit the impact of SCN and lead to increase soybean yields and profit for soybean growers. On the homeowner front, the PDDC most likely has its biggest impact in reducing pesticide usage by properly identifying landscape diseases and providing more integrated, less pesticide-heavy disease management strategies.
Focus Areas
Project Leader
Brian Hudelson
Sr. Outreach Specialist
- Department/Unit
- Plant Pathology
- School or College
- College of Agricultural and Life Sciences