Plant Disease

Examples of good and bad samples received at the Plant and Pest Diagnostic Clinic
Figure 1. How you package your plant sample can significantly affect the quality of the diagnoses you receive. Above are several samples received recently by the university's Plant and Pest Diagnostic Clinic. Samples that are too wet (left) or too dry (middle) obscure symtom expression and make disease diagnosis difficult. The sample on the right was packaged well and shipped early in the week. (Photos by Kyle Broderick)

Quality Samples Lead to Better Diagnoses

May 31, 2018
Correct identification of insects and other pests and diagnoses of diseases starts by submitting quality samples. This outlines how best to submit plant samples to the university's Plant and Pest Diagnostic Clinic.

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Violet root rot, a rhizoctonia crocorum fungus, in soil

The First Identified Root Pathogen: Rhizoctonia

April 12, 2018
This is the second article in a series on distinct sugar beet root rot diseases caused by the genus Rhizoctonia. This week Rhizoctonia solani and Rhizoctonia solani are featured.

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Nebraska map of PPDC reporting districts

Crop Diseases Confirmed by PPDC Sept. 27-Oct. 5

October 6, 2017
Anthracnose in corn and soybeans was among the diseases diagnosed by the university's Plant and Pest Diagnostic Clinic in the last two weeks. See their report for soybean, corn, hops, and alfalfa. Clinic services will be reduced Oct. 12-19.

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Has Ergot Altered Events in World History?

August 17, 2017
One of the few plant diseases that can also cause direct damage to humans, ergot, particularly in rye grain, may have been a factor in several world events..

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NebGuide icon

New Extension Crop Publications

August 17, 2017
Among new releases from Nebraska Extension are two on the use of biologicals to manage crop disease as part of an integrated pest management (IPM) plan.

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SCN Sample graphic

Improving Soybean Profitability: SCN

March 3, 2017
The easiest and least expensive way to improve profitability for many soybean growers in tight economic times, or any time, is to sample fields for soybean cyst nematodes (SCN). In Nebraska trials growers realized an average six-bushel-per-acre soybean yield increase after taking no-cost steps to manage SCN.

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Soybean roots with smaller soybean cyst nematode (SCN) cysts (red arrows) and larger nitrogen nodules (blue arrows).
Soybean roots with smaller soybean cyst nematode (SCN) cysts (red arrows) and larger nitrogen nodules (blue arrows).

SCN Scouting Recommendation Changes; SCN Resistance Possible

July 8, 2016
Mid-summer is an effective time to scout for soybean cyst nematode (SCN) using either the visual or soil test method. This story describes both methods. If SCN is identified, a follow-up soil test approximately six years later can help assess effectiveness of treatment efforts as well as identify SCN resistance.

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Soybean seedling damage
Soybean seedling damage

Herbicide Injury and Pathogen Infection on Soybean Seedlings

June 17, 2016
In an ongoing survey for soilborne pathogens in soybeans, closer examination of soybean seedling injury in a Keith County field found several causes, including herbicide injury and damping off from Fusarium or Rhizoctonia root rot.

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