Assessing Plant Problems in Cropping Systems: A Systematic Approach

INTRODUCTION: The ability to assess plant problems in the field or greenhouse is a major task for growers and plant inspectors. For the novice diagnostician, the task can be intimidating in the absence of a systematic plan for discovering the causes of plant injury. For the more accomplished diagnostician, use of a systematic approach can help avoid the bias of looking only for the familiar syndrome and stopping the investigative process prematurely.