1. Laboratory

Diagnostic Lab

Turfgrass Disease Diagnosis Laboratory 

Located at the Lewis-Brown Horticulture Research Farm, the OSU Turfgrass Disease Diagnostic Laboratory provides quick and accurate diagnostic information and management recommendations for turfgrass problems.  Our lab supports golf courses, commercial turfgrass managers, and homeowners.

Diagnostic Services
  • Visual diagnosis
  • Microscopic examination
  • Pathogen culturing
  • Disease management recommendations
  • Diagnostic results via phone or email
  • Full diagnostic report available for additional fee

 

 How to sample:

Pull the samples right before you are ready to ship them.

  1. Use a cup cutter, hex plug, or other implement (at least 6" diameter, and at least 3" depth).
  2. Pull a sample that represents both affected and unaffected turf, across the margin of disease (see photo below)
  3. If possible, pull a few samples that show different stages of symptom development.
  4. Take photographs of the affected area and surrounding areas to include with the sample.  The more information included, the better the diagnosis!
 Packing & Mailing:

Submit fresh samples & mail early in the week!  If a sample must wait before shipping, store in the fridge.

  1. Wrap the roots in aluminum foil, but do not wrap the leaf tissue in the foil or plastic.
  2. Wrap the whole sample in newspaper and be sure to pad the shipping container so it doesn't shift too much in transit
  3. Use a strong corrugated box that won't get crushed in transit
  4. Mail the sample early in the week via UPS, FedEx etc. (no USPS!)
  5. Complete the
    and enclose it with the sample, email all photos/any questions to beaverturf.lab@oregonstate.edu
Submission Forms

Diagnostic Sample Submission Form

PDF icon Diagnostic Sample Submission Form
Please provide as much information on the form as possible, the more you provide, the better the diagnosis will be.  Either print and enclose with shipped sample, or email copy with photos to beaverturf.lab@oregonstate.edu 
About Us

Chas Schmid, Ph.D, Assistant Professor (Sr. Res): 

Dr. Schmid joined the OSU Turfgrass Research team in 2020.  Chas is a South Dakota native who received his BS in Horticulture and his MS in Agronomy from the University of Nebraska and his PhD in Plant Biology and Pathology from Rutgers University.  His research interests include the management of organic matter in putting greens, plant growth regulators, turfgrass cultivar evaluations, and the impact of cultural management practices on turfgrass diseases.        

Contact Chas

Emily Braithwaite, M.Sc., Research Assistant: 
Emily received an M.Sc. in 2024 in Horticulture from Oregon State University, and has 10 years of research experience in turfgrass management.  Her research focuses on optimizing survey, collection, and management of and plant-parasitic nematodes in cool-season putting greens, as well as fungicide efficacy trials for putting green diseases.  Emily also manages the @osubeaverturf Twitter account.
Contact Emily

Robert Starchvick, Faculty Research Assistant:

Robert started as a faculty research assistant with the OSU turfgrass team in 2023. He attended Oregon State university and worked in a plant pathology laboratory as a student while completing a degree in Microbiology. After graduation he worked for the USDA ARS  as a technician in a plant pathology laboratory focused on viral, fungal and bacterial pathogens and plant parasitic nematodes affecting grass seed crops and turfgrass. At OSU he works on fungicide and herbicide efficacy trials, plant growth regulator and management trials, and plant parasitic nematode surveys and trials.

Fees
Turfgrass Samples (invoiced by OSU)
$100 Disease diagnosis and consultation via email or phone call
$150

Disease diagnosis with full report (includes cultural and chemical management recommendations)