Plant Disease and Nematode Clinics

The Department of Plant Pathology operates two Plant Disease Clinics to provide diagnostic support for county extension personnel and the residents of Georgia. Our services include analysis for plant disease, disorders, and nematodes as well as suggesting appropriate management strategies. Our clients include extension educators, growers, retailers, arborists, golf courses, researchers, and homeowners. The Plant Disease Clinic works closely with the UGA Cooperative Extension county offices.

First contact your county extension office for assistance with your plant disease problem. If the county office cannot provide an answer to the disease problem, the county office may submit the sample to the appropriate Plant Disease Clinic. All samples sent to the clinics must be submitted through the county extension offices, otherwise additional fees apply.

"The Plant Molecular Diagnostic Laboratory (MDL), located at the University of Georgia Tifton campus, is a fee-based service lab provided by the Department of Plant Pathology. The primary mission of the MDL is to provide advanced testing for plant pathogens via molecular and serological methods (PCR, qPCR, LAMP, ELISA, etc.) on plant samples submitted to the laboratory and affected by bacteria, fungi, viruses, or nematodes. We provide molecular disease diagnostic support to Extension and research personnel, commercial growers and homeowners, and the Georgia Department of Agriculture for vegetables, fruits, turf, ornamentals, and other plants."

Due to staffing limitations, the UGA Plant Disease Clinic is currently unable to receive and process homeowner disease samples.