How an OSU laboratory is helping Oklahoma fight insect pests and plant diseases

  • OSU’s Plant Disease and Insect Diagnostic Lab, located inside the Noble Research Center, focuses on identifying pests and pathogens and working with producers to develop solutions. Photo by Mitchell Alcala, OSU Agriculture
    OSU’s Plant Disease and Insect Diagnostic Lab, located inside the Noble Research Center, focuses on identifying pests and pathogens and working with producers to develop solutions. Photo by Mitchell Alcala, OSU Agriculture

    STILLWATER, Okla. – Sitting at her laboratory station, Jen Olson meticulously places the alfalfa segments into the petri dish.

    Olson, Oklahoma State University Extension plant disease diagnostician, swivels around in her stool, explaining the process. She doesn’t miss a beat, slowly placing each segment equally around in the dish. In her expertise, this specific plant suffers from root rot, but she…