Taking Photos of Plant Disease Problems

Download the full publication by selecting the publication image in the right column.

Diagnosis is the first step in disease management. Identifying the disease or the cause of a problem is necessary before appropriate management methods can be taken. Sometimes a diagnosis can be made from photos, but, in most cases, a diagnosis cannot be made using only photos. This is partially because symptoms, such as wilting or leaf spots, can be caused by different pathogens, by insects, or by abiotic factors, such as nutritional deficiencies. In addition, photos do not provide the information necessary to make a diagnosis. Necessary information may refer to the presence or absence of various signs (the physical presence of a pathogen; e.g., fungal growth) or of certain parts of a plant, a field, or landscape. Many photos can also be out of focus or poorly exposed, so obtaining information from them is difficult.

Usually, diagnosis depends upon laboratory examination and/or testing of a physical sample to identify the cause of the problem. Even if a diagnosis cannot be made from photos, photos can provide important information that can be used in the diagnostic process, especially if a physical sample is poor or has been damaged. For these reasons, it is important to provide the best photos possible. This means providing photos that are of good quality and that capture the best views of the subject.

If you plan to send photos for assistance with a potential plant disease problem, submit a series of photos that show multiple views:

1. The location of the symptomatic plant(s) and the area surrounding the plant(s) (a “field view”).
2. The entire plant (a “plant view”).
3. A close-up of any symptomatic plant parts (e.g., an entire leaf or fruit).
4. A close-up of any signs or symptoms (e.g., fungal survival structures [sclerotia] or fruiting bodies or an area that shows stem anomalies or several leaf spots/lesions).

“Field views” and “plant views” can show patterns of symptoms that are important to diagnosis. Examples of patterns include the pattern of chlorotic leaves on a plant, the pattern of symptomatic plants in a landscape or field, and the pattern of branch tips dying back in a tree.

When sending photos of potential plant disease problems to Extension agents or specialists, please do not send photos without additional information. Photos alone can provide valuable information, but the combination of photos and information, such as the variety of the affected crop and descriptions of the symptoms together, can be monumental in comparison. Information that should be collected when investigating a potential plant disease problem can be found in the publications Form 1138 Information Collection Form for Plant Disease Problems (available only to MSU Extension employees) and Form 1139 Plant Disease Sample Submission.

You can also contact state Extension specialists or your local Extension office for answers to specific questions.

Publication 3022 (POD-04-26)

By Rebecca A. Melanson, PhD, Associate Extension Professor, Central Mississippi Research and Extension Center. Reviewers: Clarissa Balbalian, Diagnostic Laboratory Manager, Agricultural Science and Plant Protection; Alan Henn, PhD, Extension Professor, Agricultural Science and Plant Protection; and Jeff Wilson, PhD, Associate Professor, North Mississippi Research and Extension Center.