Online clinic for your ailing plants

Washington, July 27

Is something attacking your vegetable garden or are your sycamore trees turning yellow-green? A new website may help!

A website that provides plant diagnostic services has been launched in the US.

New Mexico State University's Plant Diagnostic Clinic is using social media to help users tackle diseases attacking their plants.

The clinic has a website where experts provide advice for homeowners, landscape professionals and nursery retailers.

Users can find photographs of plant problems to compare plant conditions.

There is also a link to publications on a variety of conditions.

The newest way to stay abreast of diseases attacking plants is through social media — Facebook, blog, Twitter and Pinterest, said Natalie Goldberg, New Mexico State University Extension plant pathologist.

Featured diagnoses by the clinic are posted on Facebook, Goldberg added.

"Besides written information, we have photographs of the inflicted plant for comparison," she said.

Recent featured diagnoses include tomato spotted wilt virus, nutsedge and flea beetles.

However, Goldberg also cautioned that diagnosing plant diseases by symptoms alone is risky, as disease symptoms are not specific to a causal agent.

"We always recommend testing the plant in the clinic, not guessing as to cause," she said.

The plant diagnostic clinic works closely with the NMSU's Cooperative Extension county offices. People can submit plant samples through Extension offices.

"Our services include analysis of plant material for plant pathogens and environmental stresses as well as suggesting appropriate control measures when available," Goldberg said.

"The clinic also facilitates insect and weed identification through referrals to other specialists," she added. —  PTI