Plant Disease Clinic

VT Plant Disease Clinic will be closed for Holidays (university closings)

The VTPDC will NOT process samples or respond to email inquiries during these dates.  It is best to ensure samples arrive the Tuesday before (see dates below) the closure to avoid processing delays and/or sample deterioration. We take samples until Nov 25, we are closed Nov 26-28. We take samples until Dec 9  for physical sample, Dec 16 for Digital only samples, we are closed Dec 22- January 2, 2026.

We apologize for any inconvenience

The Plant Disease Clinic is a service lab that provides diagnosis and plant pathogen testing for commercial growers, service professionals, and home growers. We consult with expert faculty and provide recommendations to prevent and treat the plant problems we diagnose.  The Plant Disease Clinic is a member of the  National Plant Diagnostic Network.

We work in partnership with Virginia Cooperative Extension (VCE). Your local VCE agent may be able to diagnose the problem, and if no further diagnostic testing is recommended, no charge will be incurred. 

In some cases, laboratory diagnostic testing is recommended (e.g.  to confirm, investigate or rule out plant problems with similar symptoms ).  We test for plant pathogenic fungi, bacteria, some viruses, and other plant pathogens. We diagnose abiotic (non infectious) problems in collaboration with Virginia Tech specialists.

Please refer to the “Submitting Samples” page for detailed information on submitting samples and fees. The fee ensures the long-term sustainability of our diagnostic services.