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. Submissions to the Plant Disease Diagnostic Lab must include your name, phone number, business name, county, host plant, problem, date when symptoms were noted, and good, in-focus images. Complete and submit the Plant Disease Diagnostic Submission Form and Guidelines (PDF) for physical plant samples. We also accept digital images sent by email (view the video below) 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
-
Ruby Bonilla — UMaine undergraduate student, Lab Technician IV
- Sydni Plummer — UMaine undergraduate student, Lab Technician IV
- Kelsey Chase — UMaine undergraduate student, Lab Technician I
- Jessica Catalano — UMaine undergraduate student, Lab Technician I
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).
VIDEO: How to submit plant disease samples
University of Maine Cooperative Extension Plant Disease Diagnostic Laboratory accepts samples of plants with symptoms of disease or possible disease by mail or by digital submission form with illustrative photos.
This short video explains the process for submitting samples in need of diagnosis.