New extension service lab helps rapidly identify pests, disease

March 28, Yakima Herald−Republic (WA)

It's called a seed bug, a specimen of which landed on Mike Bush's desk at Yakima County, WA's Cooperative Extension Service in the county courthouse. An extension Master Gardener had passed it on for Bush, an entomologist and tree fruit extension
agent, to identify. He may have an answer soon −− as in a day or so. The quick turnaround is the essence of a pest−and−disease identification network that now stretches throughout the state and the West. Extension agents, pathologists, entomologists and weed scientists are using digital images sent for identification. Bush said the old system of mailing specimens took two weeks or longer. The Distance Diagnostics Through Digital Imaging Network is funded by a Department of Homeland Security grant to quickly detect threats to agriculture. Norman Dart, extension coordinator for the network based at the Western Washington Research and Extension Center in Puyallup, said the project had its origins to combat biological terrorism. But it has taken on a broader approach to create a system to watch for disease−causing
organisms.
Source: http://www.yakima−herald.com/page/dis/288522109293836

DRAFT Approved References for Pest and Pathogen Management Recommendations for WSU Distance Diagnostic through Digital Imaging Evaluators

DRAFT of Approved References for Pest and Pathogen Management Recommendations for WSU Distance Diagnostic through Digital Imaging Evaluators: This document lists sources WSU DDDI has approved to direct clients to through the DDDI system. This document was adapted from the WSU Master Gardener Approved References for Pest Management Recommendations by Rod Tinnemore (Ver. 2/06). Please send comments or suggestions by April 7th.

Digitally Assisted Diagnostics (DAD) - Getting a Digital Image

Whether you are a just starting out or looking for some additional pointers, this is a good reference and guide for taking digital photos for plant pest and pathogen diagnostics via DDDI. The guide has a lot of information. I have gone through and highlighted points that I found particularly applicable in green. Note that Florida Extension refers to Distance Diagnostics through Digital Imaging (DDDI) as Digitally Assisted Diagnostics (DAD). Don’t let yet another acronym confuse you. Click on the title above to download this guide.

Sample Submission Steps for using WSU DDDI

Below is list of steps for using the DDDI system. This is a work in progress, DDDI account holders are encouraged to make corrections, add steps or create their own list of directions and post them here for using WSU DDDI.

Sample Submission Steps for using WSU DDDI as a diagnostic tool (steps 1-9) and/or a statewide plant disease database (steps 1-10)


1.Go to WSU DDDI homepage: http://www.puyallup.wsu.edu/dddi/index.html

2.On left hand navigation bar click “ACCESS WSU DDDI”

3.Enter “Username”: __________ & “Password”:_______________ and click “Login”

4.Under “SUBMIT A SAMPLE” on the left hand navigation bar click on the description of the sample type that best describes your sample (i.e. Insect Sample, Commercial Plant Disease Identification….)

5.Enter all the required and applicable “client information” to the best of your ability. The client is the person who brought the sample into your county office or plant clinic for identification. The client’s information is only visible to you and the appropriate diagnosticians. Click the “Continue” button at the bottom of the page.

6.You are now on the “Sample submission form” page. Here you need to determine if the sample is “Digital only”, “Digital and Physical”, or Physical only” and check the appropriate response. If you choose “Digital only” or “Digital and Physical” you will be required to attach a photograph in order to submit your sample form.

7.Fill in other required and applicable fields to the best of your ability on the “Sample submission form”.

8.When you get towards the bottom of the “Sample submission form” you will be asked, “Has this sample been evaluated?”. If you or someone else has already evaluated the sample and you are entering the sample to store it in the DDDI database for future reference choose “Yes”. If you are not sure what the sample is and would like an expert to evaluate the sample click “No”. Only click “No” on samples you are not sure so as not to overrun the system evaluators.

9.If you chose “No” at step 8 you have finished submitting your sample and you must now wait for the diagnosis. If you chose “Yes” at step 8 please continue to step 10.

10.You are now at the page where you can enter the sample evaluation information. Enter the “Primary Diagnosis or Identification” by searching the DDDI database and fill in all other required and applicable fields to the best of your ability.

Utilizing Distance Diagnostics Through Digital Imaging System for Crop Problems

WSU DDDI March Pre-Growing Season Training

Please sign up! As of March 11th we only have 11 registered!

WSU DDDI 2007 Upgrades
March Pre-Growing Season TrainingThree DDDI training sessions are being offered by phone in combination with a live online demonstration. Sherri McElroy Clark from the University of Georgia will be walking us through new upgrades recently made to the WSU DDDI system which allow the system to function as a database as well as a diagnostic tool. Sherri is a DDDI developer and has been working closely with us over the past few months to improve the functionality of WSU DDDI. Bring all your DDDI questions to this informative training session.
To reserve a space send an email to normdart@wsu.edu with the date of the training you wish to attend. Those who reserve a space will be sent an email with a call in number and link to the live interactive demonstration the morning of the training.
Please signup for one of the following dates and times:
Monday March 12th, 10am-11am
Monday March 26th, 10am-11am
Friday March 30th, 10am-11am
Training Agenda:
• Improved Privacy with Flexibility
o Ability to keep confidential samples viewable only by submitter and appropriate diagnostician(s)
o Ability to change sample designation from private to shared at any time
• Expanded database functionality
o Ability to submit, store, and retrieve already evaluated samples
• Advanced data reporting capabilities
o Build your own report capabilities with ability to display grouped data, call up links to specific samples or download excel spreadsheets to sort data yourself.
o Ability to generate PDF reports for individual sample entries.
• Questions and discussion (as time permits)

How to use this post...

Please use this blog as a place to ask questions makes suggestions, exchange ideas and give advice.