How to effectively and efficiently identify your pest

with digital diagnosis

Dr. Mary Burrows

Associate Professor, MSU

Extension Plant Pathology Specialist

Outline

• Introduction to the Schutter Diagnostic Laboratory and sample submission

• Images• Digital Microscopes• Apps

Diagnostic lab: routine functions and agricultural biosecurity

• Process approximately 2000 samples/yr (~50% homeowner/horticulture)

• Free to you• Sample submission is important• Good sample = good answer• Diagnostics.montana.edu

• Donate! – http://msuaf.org/give-schutter_lab– 800-457-1696– Solicitation Code AG14CAGPS

uceDiagnostic lab staff are friendly and helpful

Good sample

+

Good information

=

Good diagnosis

(or…garbage in, garbage out….)

In our code: “insufficent sample”

http://diagnostics.montana.edu

Disease Form

• Print out form• Fill out questionnaire

with as much detail as possible

• Place form in box with sample

• Take to County Agent – If Possible

Packaging and Shipping

Keep soil on roots –not on foliage

Include photographs illustrating the problem and field patterns if possible.

Tips for taking photos with your device• Don’t use the zoom. Step up or back

away from the subject• Lots of light, but no shine (reflection)

– Shade subject if that’s helpful• Allow the camera to focus before

snapping the picture– If you’re looking a subject on multiple

planes, adjust the subject if you’re having trouble focusing or provide a background

• Some cameras have a macro feature

Apps to help with photos

• Camera Plus to adjust light exposure• ProCapture for panoramas on android• ShakeIt and Hipstamatic for iPhone

filters

The good

The good

The good

The good

The good

The good

The good

The bad

The ugly

The ugly

The ugly

The ugly

Digital microscopes

• Demos• Hook to computer or bluetooth to phone• Many options, many prices

Photography stand, $10• http://petapixel.com/2013/10/19/turn-smartphone-

microscope-macro-photography-rig-10/

General tips• Photos should be IN FOCUS and

provide some information, just like a normal sample– Google for more specific advice– The specialist will also tell you if it’s not

good enough!

Apps/websites for digital diagnosis• Purdue ‘Plant Doctor’

– Tree; Perennial Flower; Annual Flower; Shrub Doctor(s)– NPIPM Soybean Guide

A number of plant ID Apps (EDDMaps West, ID Weeds, XID)

APHIS-PPQ has a number of LUCID keys for identification http://www.cabi.org/ISC/default.aspx?site=144&page=3489 http://

www.lucidcentral.org/Keys173/SearchforaKey/tabid/217/Default.aspx

Websites for digital diagnosis

• Wiki.bugwood.org/HPIPM– High Plains IPM Guide: LUCID keys

• Woody ornamentals• Wheat

– iWheat (in progress)

Incomplete tool

The danger with apps and websites

• INCORRECT or Misleading information and pest identifications

• Question what the source of the information is– Public or Private– Location

Other useful apps for disease management

• Spray Calibration Apps• SoilsWeb (soil type where you are

standing, from USDA)• Agrian and CDMS (pesticide labels)• Montana Landowners/Parcels

(Cadastral data) http://geoinfo.montanastatelibrary.org/data/msdi/cadastral/

Keeping informed on pest issues• Montana Ag Alerts (www.mtagalert.org)

(urban-only alerts also available)• NDSU Crop and Pest Report (

http://www.ag.ndsu.edu/cpr/)• Pacific Northwest and Treasure Valley Pest

Alert Network (http://tvpestalert.net/)• Rust listserve (Mark Hughes, UMN)

– Stripe rust only : contact Xianming Chen, WSU

• Wheat disease listserve (Erick DeWolf, KSU)

Questions?