As the diagnostic season begins to ramp up, we are seeing a steady increase in sample submissions and a growing diversity of plant health issues. The following is a brief summary of diagnostic activity from January through March, highlighting key trends in crops, disorders, and pathogens observed during this early part of the year.
January
In January, samples were received across a range of categories including ornamental plants, vegetables, and fruit crops. Ornamental submissions were largely affected by abiotic and environmental issues, such as mechanical damage and cold damage. Ethylene was observed in tomatoes grown in greenhouse settings. Powdery mildew was diagnosed in several perennial plants grown in greenhouse. Neopestalotiopsis disease and anthracnose was diagnosed in two strawberry plants.
February
February submissions were dominated by vegetable and ornamental samples, with a strong prevalence of root and crown diseases. Multiple lettuce samples were diagnosed with Phytophthora root rot. Fusarium root rot was diagnosed on pepper. Ornamental Bonsai (juniper) samples showed Phomopsis spores. Diaporthe associated with possible environmental stresses was observed on Canaan fir. Environmental stresses were reported in several cases, including cold damage on strawberry.
March
March saw the highest volume and diversity of submissions, largely from ornamental crops. Diagnoses included a wide range of fungal diseases such as needle casts (Swiss, Stigmina), root rots (Pythium, Rhizoctonia, Phytophthora, Globisporangium), and needle and leaf blights (Phyllosticta, Cryptocline). Several samples showed abiotic stress related to herbicide exposure, ethylene exposure, transplant shock, or cold injury. Oystershell scales were identified on a chestnut sample.
Table 1. Samples received and diagnosed by the C. Wayne Ellett personell.
|
Host |
County |
Month |
Final Diagnosis |
|
Insect ID |
Unknown |
Jan |
Drosophila |
|
Oak Red |
Cuyahoga |
Jan |
Mechanical Damage |
|
Spatiphyllium (?) |
Franklin |
Jan |
Abiotic Watering Related Issue |
|
Cannon Ball Tree |
Franklin |
Jan |
Eutypella Dieback (Suspected) |
|
Insect ID |
Unknown |
Jan |
Leaf-Footed Bug |
|
Strawberry |
KY |
Jan |
Neopestalotiopsis and Anthracnose |
|
Insect Id |
Montgomery |
Jan |
Jumping Spider No Other Pests |
|
Tomato |
Jan |
Abiotic Ethylene Heat Damage |
|
|
Veronica |
Delaware |
Jan |
Powdery Mildew |
|
Bonsai |
Cuyahoga |
Feb |
Phomopsis Spores |
|
Bonsai |
Cuyahoga |
Feb |
Phomopsis Spores |
|
Lettuce |
Franklin |
Feb |
Phytophthora Root Rot |
|
Lettuce |
Franklin |
Feb |
Phytophthora Root Rot |
|
Lettuce |
Franklin |
Feb |
Phytophthora Root Rot |
|
Lettuce |
Franklin |
Feb |
Phytophthora Root Rot |
|
Pepper |
Franklin |
Feb |
Fusarium Root Rot |
|
Canaan Fir |
Geauga |
Feb |
Diaporthe (secondary) Environmental Stress |
|
Elm |
Delaware |
Feb |
Phytoplasma Negative (Nested PCR testing) |
|
Arborvitae |
Feb |
No Pest or Pathogen found, Environmental Suspected |
|
|
Strawberry |
Wayne |
Feb |
Cold Damage |
|
Insect Id |
Butler |
Feb |
No Insect Found |
|
Begonia |
Licking |
Mar |
Rhizoctonia Root Rot and Environmental stress |
|
Tomato |
Mar |
Environmental Abiotic (Ethylene damage) |
|
|
Rhododendron |
Wayne |
Mar |
Cladosporium Leaf Spot (Asked Larger Samples) |
|
Garlic |
Wayne |
Mar |
Garlic Bloat |
|
Spruce |
Wayne |
Mar |
Needle Cast |
|
Spruce Blue |
Marion |
Mar |
Swiss Needle Cast |
|
Taxus |
Cuyahoga |
Mar |
Globisporangium Root Rot |
|
Fir |
Marion |
Mar |
Suspected Herbicide |
|
Fir |
Marion |
Mar |
Suspected Herbicide |
|
Spruce Black Hill |
Marion |
Mar |
Suspected Herbicide |
|
Arborvitae |
Lorian |
Mar |
Transplant Shock Suspected |
|
Chestnut |
Ashland |
Mar |
Oystershell Scale |
|
Cypress False |
Lorian |
Mar |
Phyllosticta Needle Blight |
|
Ranunculus |
Clinton |
Mar |
Pythium Crown Rot |
|
Taxus |
Lorian |
Mar |
Cryptocline Needle Blight |
|
Fir Douglas |
Cuhyaoga |
Mar |
Pine Needle Scale (?) |
|
Hemlock |
Wayne |
Mar |
No significant number of pests found |
|
Lobelia |
Mar |
Ethylene Exposure Or Herbicide suspected |
|
|
Marigold |
Mar |
Ethylene Exposure Or Herbicide suspected |
|
|
Spruce |
Franklin |
Mar |
Spider Mite Damage |
|
Tomato |
Mar |
Ethylene Exposure Or Herbicide |
|
|
Arborvitae |
Franklin |
Mar |
Phyllosticta Blight |
|
Spruce |
Franklin |
Mar |
Stigmina Needle Cast |
|
Arborvitae (Roots) |
Franklin |
Mar |
Phytophthora Root Rot (Mild +) |
|
Lettuce |
Lake |
Mar |
Pythium Botrytis |
|
Spinach |
Lake |
Mar |
Pythium Botrytis |
|
Spruce |
Franklin |
Mar |
Possible herbicide damage |
