Sample Collection and Submission

Learn about free testing, how to collect and submit physical samples and how to take photos of digital samples and submit them.

Page Table of Contents


Free Testing at the UW-PDDC

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  • Boxwood Blight:  Boxwood blight is a new and devastating disease of boxwood in Wisconsin.  If you are seeing dieback in your boxwood shrubs, please send in a sample of leaves and branches for a free diagnosis, so that we can track where the disease is occurring in the state.   Please fill out and submit the “General Samples” submission form below with your submission and write “Suspected Boxwood Blight” on the form.
  • Late Blight:  Late blight is a disease of tomato and potato that potentially can have a huge impact on commercial potato production in Wisconsin (Wisconsin is the third largest potato-producing state in the US).  If you are seeing, spotting on the leaves of your potatoes and tomatoes and suspect late blight (or even if you don’t), please send in a sample of leaves and branches for a free diagnosis.  Early detection of late blight is critical for providing timely and accurate control information for Wisconsin’s potato producers.  Please fill out and submit the “General Samples” submission form below with your submission and write “Suspected Late Blight” on the form.

Clinic Brochure

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Physical Sample Collection

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Physical Sample Submission

Mail Sample Submission

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In-Person Sample Submission

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Forms for Mail and In-Person Sample Submission

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Digital Sample Submission

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Submit photos of your diseased plant via the PDDC Digital Diagnosis online submission form.

To optimize the likelihood of receiving an accurate digital diagnosis:

      • Take LOTS of pictures. Err on the side of taking too many photos.  The more photos you send me, the more likely I will see something that will lead me to an accurate diagnosis.
      • Take a variety of pictures. These should include:
        • Landscape shots. These sorts of photos show how your diseased plant is situated in your yard relative to other plants, buildings, driveways, sidewalks, etc.  They can often provide clues on environmental factors that may be contributing to the disease problem you are seeing.
        • Whole plant shots. These photos will show the distribution of symptoms on the plant.  Are the symptoms in just one area?  Are they scattered throughout the plant?  Is the entire plant affected?
        • Close up shots. Take pictures of affected leaves (both tops and bottoms), branches, roots, fruits or any other affected plant part.  I need to look for symptoms (e.g., leaf spots, cankers, discolorations, growth distortions, etc.), as well as signs of pathogens (e.g., fungal sporulation) that can help me with my diagnosis.
      • Take high quality pictures. This means taking:
        • High resolution photos. The higher the resolution, the better I will be able to increase the size of the picture and still see lots of detail.  The more detail I can see, the more likely I will be able to figure out what’s going on.
        • Crisp, non-fuzzy photos. If a picture is fuzzy, I won’t be able to see much or tell you much.