Oregon State University Plant Clinic

Services and fees

Insect/mite and other arthropod identifications are currently provided free of charge.

Disease Diagnosis Services

Plant disease diagnosis = $40.00 per sample.
This is our most frequently requested service. The service includes overall evaluation, including microscopic exam, results from a moist chamber, isolations onto artificial nutrient media, and identification of fungi or bacteria to genus. Viral inclusion analysis and measurement of soil pH and total soluble salts will be performed if necessary. Control recommendations are included.

Specialized Identification Services

Bacterial identifications

Identification of purified bacterial cultures = $22.00
This service identifies purified plant related bacterial cultures using Biolog. This method uses a microtitre plate filled with different carbon sources and identifies bacteria according to their metabolic profile; ID will be to species when possible.

Isolation for and identification of Agrobacterium species. = $50.00 per sample. This procedure also checks for the bacterium Rhodococcus at the same time. A sample consists of one or more plants of the same species and cultivar with the problem. Plants of different species or of different cultivars are considered separate samples.


Viral identifications

Detection of virus particles using electron microscopy = $20.00 per sample. This service is for those who think their plant tissue is infected with a virus and ask for us to look for viruses. This method only works for large, rod-shaped viruses, but is useful for viruses such as potyviruses and tomato mosaic virus in leafy tissue. The procedure is a leaf dip.

Virus identification via ELISA
These fees are for those plant samples that are submitted specifically with a request to test for viruses. The cost of virus testing is based on the number of samples submitted and the number of viruses for which the samples are to be tested.

$40 per sample. Bulk samples have a discounted rate - please call for more information.

Virus testing done by an outside company = Cost of testing + postage
It is occasionally necessary to send a sample out to a third part for testing. The fees associated with doing so are dependent on the fees charged by the testing service. That fee is passed along to our client without any additional charge.

Seed assays

Seed tests for blind seed or stripe smut = $30.00/ seed sample.
Seed tests for Kabatiella and Phoma (clover seed); or Ascochyta (pea) = $50/seed sample.

Water assays

Testing water for the presence of Phytophthora or Pythium = $35 for the first sample, and $10 for each additional sample. Identification of the organisms obtained will be to genus only. In some cases Phytophthora species may be identified to species. Call first for instructions on how to sample and how to ship samples.
The Plant Clinic requires a 3 day lead time
before it can accept any water samples for this service.

Soil assays

Assaying field soil for the presence of Verticillium = $15.00/soil sample.
This service analyzes the soil samples for propagules of the fungus Verticillium dahliae. We suggest a minimum of 5 samples per acre in order to get a reasonable representation of the field.

Rush samples

Plant samples to be done on a “rush” basis = $100.00 per sample
This includes an extremely thorough investigation, with results available in most cases in 24 hours. This includes evaluation for fungal and other diseases; no additional fees are assessed for culturing or other methods needed to reach a diagnosis.

Other services

Other services not listed here may be available. Call for information.


Out of state samples

ALL SAMPLES received from out-of-state will be assessed an additional 50% surcharge.

Factors used to set fees include cost of materials, supplies, clerical support, and a portion of the labor required to perform the tests. The remainder of the costs are paid by the OSU Extension Service as part of its education mission.

 

October 29, 2007