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www. npdn. org www. wpdn. org Author: Richard Hoenisch Sample Submission: Quality and Security 1

Take into Consideration the Nature of Your Sample: Perishable? Tender? Tough? 2

Sample Quality: Diseases may be on any plant part Foliage diseases Lesions / Damage on trunk? 3

Digital Diagnosis Take at least 5 photos – close up and at a distance 4

Sample Quality Avoid dead plants Dead Plants Tell No Tales!

►Put your samples in a cold box! ►Have sealable baggies ►Always have a black Sharpie 6

Sample Quality: Packaging & Shipping • Strong crush-proof box § All seams taped • Keep soil on roots § Plastic bag on roots, closed around stem • Do not add extra water • Wrap in dry paper then double bag in plastic § Zip-able lock bags are highly preferred • Disinfest exterior of bags 7

Sample Quality: Good Packaging Plastic bag to keep soil on roots Dry paper to protect leaves from contact with plastic bag 8

Quality and Secure Sample Submission: INSECTS Most insects can be preserved in a vial with 70% isopropyl alcohol 9

Quality and Secure Sample Submission: INSECTS • Caterpillars should be placed in boiling water for 1 minute prior to preservation in 70% alcohol Don’t Microwave 10

Secure Sample Submission: Insects • Be specific on collection information! • Location on Host Plant? – Roots, Stems, Flowers, Buds, Leaves, etc. • Where was the insect found? – Field Crops, Greenhouse, Residence, Landscape • Who collected the sample? – His/Her contact info. • Degree of infestation

Secure Sample Submission: Insect Guidelines DON’T: • Crush specimens in tissue or plastic wrap, or tape them to paper • Overcrowd them (dead or alive) • Send them without complete and accurate information

Quality and Secure Sample Submission: Weeds Include all plant parts Include stems, roots if possible, whole leaves attached to the stem, and any flowers, fruits, or seeds.

Submitting the Sample: Chain of Custody • A record must be kept documenting the transfer of evidence from one person ensure that a complete and accurate record is maintained, including: • The name of the person from whom he/she obtained the evidence; Date and time he/she came into possession of the evidence; • The name of the person to whom it was transferred and the date and time of that transfer. 14

Submitting the Sample: Confidentiality Photo from Suzanna 's Public Gallery Avoid telling others about “your find!” Respect confidentiality

Submitting the Sample Notify the agricultural agent § That you have a suspect sample § whether you will be delivering or shipping the sample § give estimated time and date of arrival § if shipping, give all relevant shipping info: - carrier - tracking number - expected time of delivery 16

Secure Sample Submission Furnish all relevant information, including: ►your contact information ►location, name of grower/owner, date found ►extent of damage, incidence and severity data ►more information means faster, better diagnosis ►Site conditions and history of sample 17

Rick Bostock WPDN Regional Director UCD 530 -752 -4269 rmbostock@ucdavis. edu Kitty Cardwell NPDN Project Leader kcardwell@nifa. usda. gov Carla Thomas WPDN Deputy Director UCD 530 -304 -0689 cthomas@ucdavis. edu Richard Hoenisch WPDN Education Coordinator UCD 530 -754 -2255 rwhoenisch@ucdavis. edu Andrew Coggeshall WPDN IT Specialist UCD 530 -355 -8944 acoggeshall@ucdavis. edu 18