Plant Diseases Diagnostic Methods

Plant Diseases Forensic Diagnostic Methods Andres S. Espindola Dept. Entomology and Plant Pathology Oklahoma State University

Plant Diagnostics: Importance Plant diseases spread as quick as human diseases

Infected plants can not be saved. Quick plant pathogen diagnosis Quick on site diagnosis Specialized lab The United States crops are a billionaire business

Signs and Symptoms At a glance, take a look in signs and symptoms.

Signs: Presence of the pathogen (bacterial cells)

Signs and symptoms may give a guidance to plant pathologist.

Pseudomonas syringae pv. tomato

Symptoms: responses of the plant.

Different techniques for Diagnosis Symptoms and signs are not the only tool to diagnostic a plant disease.

Immunological diagnostic tests

Human Immune System Plant pathogen proteins injection

Positive Result

Negative Result

Invalid Results Pictures of real Immunostrips

Agglutination Antibodies

Bacteria (Plant pathogen)

The results are going to be similar to this:

Agglutination: How does it happen?

Agglutination: How does it happen?