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

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

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

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

5. Sample Quality Avoid dead plants Dead Plants Tell No Tales!

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

7. 7 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

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

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

10. 10 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

11. 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

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

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

14. 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

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

16. 16 Notify the agricultural agent Submitting the Sample  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

17. 17 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

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