For a correct diagnosis
samples must be as representative as possible of the symptoms observed in the
field.
When plants are small or they are taken from crops growing in a
greenhouse, five plants with their root balls and soil must be collected. Plant
samples must not be collected after rainfall or irrigation to avoid rot
following transportation. Samples must be wrapped in newspaper and later in
plastic bags correctly labeled to avoid any possible mistake.
In case of
adult plants or established plantations, wood, branch, root and fruit samples
when necessary, will be collected as well as adhered soil (at a depth from 20
to 40 cm) of five plants with symptoms of different stages of the disease
wrapped and labeled separately. In case there are mushrooms at the foot of the
tree or on the trunk they will be collected separately wrapping them up with
newspaper to be transported to the laboratory.
If they are insects, as
well as following the guidelines commented above, they should be sent alive
inside a tube or a container, preferably with plant material (leaves, fruits or
the organ from which they feed). They should never be smashed, thus it is
important to send them inside containers so as they would not be
damaged.
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