In this video we go over how to effectively scout for plant diseases in the nursery.  

The main steps include:

1. Closely monitor your crop and scout for unusual patterns or symptoms you observe on it.  Be familiar with its normal appearance and growth stage to quickly spot any unusual patterns or symptoms.
2. Look for above and below ground symptoms.  Once you recognize unusual patterns or symptoms on the foliage, including wilting, defoliation, blights, stem cankers, yellowing or browning of the foliage, check the plant roots.  In many cases symptoms observed in the foliage are the consequence of root rot symptoms.  It is also important to identify the distribution of the plants affected.  When symptoms are caused by a pathogen, usually infected plants are found in patches in different sites of the crop.
3. Evaluate environment and cultural practices.  Consider the environmental (i.e. temperature, relative humidity) and cultural conditions ( i.e. like irrigation regime, sanitation practices, direct contact of the plants with the soil), in which you have identified plant symptoms.  These factors can create favorable conditions for plant pathogens to establish and spread.
4. Seek expert diagnostics.  If you have gone through the previous four steps and suscept there is a pathogen infecting your crop, contact the farm advisor in your area.  Farm advisors can provide recommendations on site or select plant material to submit for disease diagnostics to a plant diagnostics laboratory.  
5. Use accurate diagnostics for effective management.  Having an accurate disease diagnostic is the first step to implement an effective integrated disease management program in your crop and prevent the spread of pathogens.