The Turf Disease Centre - send a sample

Sending a turf sample from the Rest of the World

Click here to download the shipping information on this page as a pdf, including the letter of authority, address label and sample submission form

Both fungal disease analysis and assessment of free-living plant parasitic nematodes services are available.

Ensure that you have taken the appropriate samples (please see below), that they are packaged according to current Regulations and that they are labelled so that you can relate the results to the sampled locations
Please complete the online Sample Submission Form OR email a completed form to me OR print and enclose it with your shipment
Please email me or WhatsApp photographs to show the general symptom development
Pack your samples and send them by 1 to 2 day delivery to ensure that samples arrive in a good condition for assessment (please email me the tracking details of your shipment)
When completing the shipping documents, please state:

that you are sending ‘GOODS FOR TEST – RELIEF CLAIMED’
use customs procedure code CPC4000C33
confirm that the value of the goods is only US$1 or equivalent

The Turf Disease Centre will not be held liable for any import duty charges that could otherwise be incurred at UK Customs.

Attach a copy of my Delivery Address label (click the picture to print):

To comply with new Regulations, all shipments received from outside the UK should be accompanied by a copy of my Letter of Authority (LoA) that has been completed as follows:

Part 1: include sender/company details

Attach the completed LoA to the OUTSIDE of your shipment ensuring it is visible to UK customs and is not covered by other shipping paperwork. Please also ENCLOSE a copy with your samples

What should I sample?

Turf samples for fungal disease analysis

A ‘SAMPLE’ may contain one or more pieces of turf but as long as they are all taken from the same local area (i.e. golf Green, sports Pitch), they will be treated as one sample. It is important that examples of all developing symptoms are received. If you are in any doubt about what to send in, please contact me.

Sampling procedure

Fungal disease can develop rapidly and as the turf decays, it becomes increasingly colonised by a variety of fungi and bacteria. These secondary infections can hinder diagnosis of the initial problem.

Send samples of the turf that show new or recent symptom development and wrap the samples to keep the sward clear of rootzone contamination.

Use a golf hole-changer to take a sample from the leading edge of the symptoms
The core sample should be taken to at least 8cm depth or to include the root tips if deeper than 8cm
Place some paper towel on the sward and wrap the whole sample tightly in dry newspaper. The sample can be further wrapped in aluminium (kitchen) foil to help keep the profile intact during shipment
International shipments are required to be contained inside 3 layers of wrapping and at least one layer should be strong enough to prevent the sample leaking from the package during delivery.
LABEL THE SAMPLE so that you will know which area the results relate to
Pack the samples TIGHTLY inside a cardboard box using bubble wrap or similar packing material
Enclose your contact details and general information on symptom development
Send the sample by 1 to 2 day delivery and email photographs of the symptoms

Many fungal disease problems can be assessed using small core samples – so we can work with what you are able to send

Turf samples for free-living plant parasitic nematode analysis

Important This analysis does not guarantee that materials are ‘nematode free’. If you require a ‘nematode free’ analysis, please contact me.

It is possible to identify the presence of plant parasitic nematodes in any size sample of turf as long as the sample does not dry out during shipment. However, determining their relative populations is best completed on a sample containing several small diameter cores rather than a single core sample¹. Isolation of the nematodes prior to analysis depends on them being alive and able to move through a permeable barrier. Dead nematodes cannot be assessed. If you are in any doubt about what to send in, please contact me.

Sampling procedure

Most turf parasitic nematodes feed on or within roots but some will be present inside the leaf or crown tissues. For that reason, it is important to send samples that contain plant material as well as rootzone so that a complete result can be provided.

Nematode populations develop as ‘hot spots’ across a given turf area and it is important to sample randomly to obtain meaningful results.

Small diameter cores (approx. 1cm diameter) are ideal for nematode analysis samples
Take multiple cores, randomly, from across and around affected turf areas (as shown on the photographs below) and put all material inside a plastic bag
Take cores to a depth that is just below the root tip development and enough cores to provide a total sample volume of approximately 300ml
Seal the plastic bag to prevent the sample from drying out and label the sample so that you will know which area the result relates to
International shipments are required to be contained inside 3 layers of wrapping and at least one layer should be strong enough to prevent the sample leaking from the package during delivery.
Pack the sample tightly inside a cardboard box using bubble wrap or similar packing material. This is very important because some nematodes are susceptible to sudden impact and could be killed during shipment. Dead nematodes can’t be assessed!
Enclose your contact details and general information on symptom development
Send the sample by 1 to 2 day delivery and email photographs of the symptoms

¹Single hole changer core samples are requested if an extended rootzone analysis is going to be completed at depth intervals through the rootzone profile. If you would like to discuss this, please contact me directly.