It is important to correctly identify plant pests and pathogens for effective management plans and to reduce environmental and economic impacts of pest pressure and spread. If you need assistance identifying a plant pest or disease in your cropping system, please contact your local county agricultural and natural resources Extension Agent . Your agent can help with diagnosing plant problems and assist with submitting a sample to the Plant Pest Diagnostic Laboratory in Nashville if images of symptoms are not sufficient to determine a management plan.
UT Extension and Southeastern regional working groups of plant pest experts from area land grant universities provide many up-to-date and science management publications that are available online. Additionally, check out the online database for a searchable catalogue for information on common plant pest problems from UT Extension.
Below is a list of helpful resources for commercial fruit and vegetable growers in the Southeast:
Crop Manual | Topic | Plants/Pests Included | Link to Document |
2022 Integrated Orchard Management Guide for Commercial Apples in the Southeast | Considerations for insect, disease, weed, and wildlife affecting commercial apple production | Click here | |
2022 Southeast Regional Blueberry Integrated Management Guide | Considerations for insect, disease, weed, and wildlife affecting commercial blueberry production | Click here | |
2022 Southeast Regional Caneberry Integrated Management Guide | Considerations for insect, disease, weed, and wildlife affecting commercial caneberry production (raspberry, blackberry, boysenberry) | Click here | |
2022 Southeast Regional Muscadine Grape Integrated Management Guide | Considerations for insect, disease, weed, and wildlife affecting commercial muscadine grape production | Click here | |
2022 Southeast Peach, Nectarine, and Plum Pest Management and Cultural Guide | Considerations for insect, disease, weed, and wildlife affecting commercial peach, nectarine, and plum production | Click here | |
2022 Southeast Regional Strawberry Integrated Pest Management Guide for Plasticulture Production | Considerations for insect, disease, weed, and wildlife affecting commercial strawberry plasticulture production | Click here | |
2022 Southeast U.S. Vegetable Crop Handbook | Considerations for general vegetable production and insect, mite, pathogen, and weed pest management for commercial production of specific commodity vegetable crops | Click here |
Post by Dr. Eleanor Lopez, plant pathogen and insect diagnostician at the UTIA Soil, Plant and Pest Center.