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BCMAL Plant Diagnostic Laboratory
The BCMAL Plant Diagnostic Lab provides identification of
pathogenic and non-pathogenic disorders affecting commercial crops in B.C. and
promotes reduced pesticide use by making control recommendations which
emphasize IPM (Integrated Pest Management). The Plant Diagnostic Lab is part of
the Plant Health Unit in the Food Safety and Quality Branch. Its services help
growers protect the production capability and marketability of their crops. |
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Submission of samples to the Plant Diagnostic Lab
- Specimens must be fresh. Use plastic bags.
- Send as much as possible of a typical diseased (not dead or badly decayed)
plant, including roots. Do not include moist paper towels when sending
samples.
- Try to send several plants or plant parts showing the various stages of
infection; include a healthy plant for comparison.
- Dig up plants rather than pulling them from the ground to preserve the
feeder roots. If plants are potted, send the whole pot. Enclose roots and
pots in a plastic bag or wax paper that is secured at the plant crown to
prevent drying of roots and contamination of the leaves with soil.
- Wrap the top of the plant in a plastic bag secured at the plant
crown.
- Turf disease samples must be at least 10 cm and as deep as the roots. A
cup cutter size is perfect for greens and tees. Wrap the sample in plastic
to prevent drying. Include the margin of the affected areas in each
sample.
- Fill out and include a submission form.
- Urgent or perishable samples
should be brought in person to the lab or sent by courier.
Note, for more tips on submitting a good sample, please link to the
following factsheet:
Submission Forms
Please
print and complete the submission form and mail
with your sample.
Please note: commercial agriculture samples only.
Send samples to the following address:
Plant Diagnostic Lab,
B.C. Ministry of Agriculture and Lands
Abbotsford Agriculture Centre,
1767 Angus Campbell Road,
Abbotsford B.C., V3G 2M3
Tel: 604 556-3126 (directly) or 1-800-661-9903 (main office)
Fax: 604 556-3154
Where we are located
Fee Schedule |
Complete Diagnostic Procedure
Includes all tests that can be performed by the Plant Diagnostic Lab and
are necessary to diagnose the problem. Cost per submission*:
Urgent - 3 days** |
$31.80 |
Routine - 7 days** |
$21.20 |
Casual - 14 days** |
$15.90 |
Complete Diagnostic Procedure Fee includes the Handling Fee
($10.00) and GST (6%) |
Specific Tests - 3-5** days
For samples requiring only one test, or a combination of the tests listed
below:
- Insect Identification
- Virus testing*** (TSWV, INSV, PMMoV, PepMV or BBScV)
- EC (total salts) and pH
- Xcp - (Xanthomonas bacterial blight of geranium)
$2 per specific test x number of samples/varieties + Handling Fee
($10.00) + GST (6%) = TOTAL |
*Each crop (genus, species or variety) or
sample taken from different locations is considered a separate submission.
If the same problem is widespread on a number of plants of different
general, species or varieties, a combined sample (plants chosen from
different species or varieties) will be considered as one submission. A
diagnostic report will be provided on the submission, not on individual
plants.
**Diagnosis response time (working days) may vary depending upon the total
number of submissions in the Plant Lab at a given time. Suggested time
frame is not guaranteed. (Working Hours: 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Monday to
Friday).
***Tomato Spotted Wilt Virus (TSWV), Impatiens Necrotic Spot Virus (INSV),
Pepper Mild Mottle Virus (PMMoV), Pepino Mosaic Virus (PepMV), Blueberry
Scorch Virus (BBScV) |
Payment Method:
Payment by credit card (Visa or MasterCard), debit card, cash or personal
cheque.
Cheques payable to: Minister of Finance and Corporate Relations.
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*The Adobe Acrobat Reader is needed to view PDF files. This program may
be downloaded free of charge from the Adobe web site (www.adobe.com)
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