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Crucial Concepts to Focus on When Working on Diagnosing Landscape Plant Problems

Session Description

Diagnosing plant diseases and disorders involves combining of logical investigation with the art of deduction. Jenny Glass, Diagnostician at the WSU Puyallup Plant & Insect Diagnostic Laboratory, will share her adventures of over two decades running the lab. The talk will cover the concepts of having a plan for tackling the diagnostic process, looking at symptom pattern to help you separate nonliving stresses from problems caused by living causes, examining aspects of the plant disease triangle to provide evidence to help confirm a diagnosis. The talk will finish with resources, such as the local diagnostic labs, available to help you figure out the causes and solutions to plant problems.

Learning objectives:

  • Develop a stepwise approach to determining the diagnosis of an unknown problem
  • Be able to identify 3 general patterns that suggest a problem either has a nonliving (abiotic) origin or is caused by a living pathogen or pest
  • Familiarize yourself with available reputable resources and options for help with the diagnostic process.
Speaker Information

 

 

Jenny Rebecca Glass, Extension Coordinator

 

Jenny Rebecca Glass is the Extension Coordinator and Plant Diagnostician for the WSU-Puyallup Plant and Insect Diagnostic Laboratory. For the past two decades, she has been responsible for diagnosing plant problems ranging from abiotic factors, such as nutrient deficiencies or water stress, to biotic factors including plant pathogens and arthropod pests. She also helps people understand the available management options. In addition to managing the Diagnostic Lab, Jenny provides plant pathogen training, covering plant problem diagnosis and integrated pest management, to diverse audiences in western Washington. Her interests involve vegetable gardening, reading, walking and working with youth in her community. She recently geeked out on mistletoe infection of pine against the backdrop of Steamboat Geyser’s pre-eruption antics at Yellowstone National Park.