6 Tips for Collecting Samples for Diagnosis of Seedling Diseases and Disorders

Posted by Matt Hopkins|January 10, 2018

Seedling diseases and disorders are difficult to correctly diagnose in the field. If you are unsure of why your soybeans (or your customers’) do not look healthy, the Crop Protection Network recommends sending a seedling sample to your local diagnostic lab before implementing a disease management program. Obtaining an accurate diagnosis will allow you to determine the best management strategies for your soybean field.

Here are some tips to follow when collecting samples to submit to a diagnostic laboratory:

Collect around 10 plants from several areas showing symptoms in the field.
Dig around the seedlings to obtain the full root system and leave a small amount of soil around the seedling.
If possible, wrap roots in foil to the soil line and crimp foil to keep soil from moving onto the cotyledons or leaves.
Collect samples the day they are shipped. Ship samples overnight, if possible; do not ship samples immediately before the weekend.
Do not collect or ship dead plants.
Do not wash seedlings prior to submitting.