University of Maine Cooperative Extension Plant Disease Diagnostic Lab
The Plant Disease Diagnostic Lab is part of the Pest Management Unit within the UMaine Extension Diagnostic and Research Laboratory. The lab is also a part of the National Plant Diagnostic Network.
| Important Announcement: As diagnostic testing evolves, so too does the cost of carrying out those tests. As of May 1st, 2024, our Plant Disease Diagnostic Lab has begun charging for all of the great variety of tests we perform, as well as for digital photo submissions. Please refer to the relevant pages on our site to find the cost associated with the service(s) or test(s) that you desire. We are making this change to ensure that our lab continues to be able to support Maine agriculture and Maine’s avid garden community. We thank you for your understanding and support! |
Complete and submit the Plant Disease Diagnostic Submission Form and Guidelines (PDF) for any physical plant samples you are sending to us. We also now accept digital image submissions at a cost of $8 per submission but we may ultimately need a physical sample in order to make a definitive identification. Note: Please expect 5-10 business days after sample arrival for diagnosis. A report detailing the diagnosis and management recommendations will be sent via email (if provided) for each sample. The subject title of this report will read “UMaine Plant Disease Diagnostic Lab Report; ******”. Please check your spam folder if you suspect you have not received this report and select “Not Spam” so that future reports will go into your inbox. Most spam folders self-delete following 30 days; if this is the case and you cannot find your report, please contact us to resend it.
Diagnostic Lab Personnel:
- Dr. Alicyn Smart, DPM — Plant Pathologist and Director of the Plant Disease Diagnostic Laboratory
- Dr. Stephanie Shea, Ph.D. — Assistant Diagnostician and Accreditation Manager
- Sydni Plummer — UMaine undergraduate student, Lab Technician IV
- Kelsey Chase — UMaine undergraduate student, Lab Technician III
- Randi Phillips — UMaine undergraduate student, Lab Technician II
Additional Resources:
- Mushroom ID: Dr. Seanna Annis — Associate Professor of Mycology
- UMaine Cooperative Extension Plant Disease Publications
- General Plant ID
- Insect ID
Hours:
8:00 a.m. – 4:30 p.m., Monday-Friday (closed holidays)
Location:
We are located at 17 Godfrey Drive in Orono, Maine, just off from Interstate 95, Exit #193 (not far from the Black Bear Inn).