By Blake Jackson
The University of Kentucky’s Plant Disease Diagnostic Laboratory (PDDL), part of the Martin-Gatton College of Agriculture, Food and Environment, has received Core Accreditation from the National Plant Diagnostic Network (NPDN), recognizing its commitment to reliable diagnostic practices as the laboratory marks 50 years of service to Kentucky agriculture, according to Jennifer Elwell, Agriculture Communications Specialist at the University of Kentucky.
Effective September 1, 2026, the accreditation recognizes the quality management system established by Julie Beale, PDDL director and diagnostician, and Sara Long, diagnostician, both in the Department of Plant Pathology.
“This accreditation demonstrates our commitment to quality procedures and continuous improvement,” said Beale. “Documenting everything we do enhances our work, preserves that knowledge for future employees and helps the UK laboratory continue providing reliable diagnoses for Kentucky.”
The NPDN accreditation program establishes consistent quality standards for plant diagnostic laboratories nationwide. Requirements include documenting sample intake, testing procedures, equipment maintenance and calibration, reporting practices, and regular reviews to ensure accurate, consistent results.
The milestone coincides with the laboratory’s 50th anniversary. The university hired its first plant disease diagnostician in 1976.
Today, the facility assists Cooperative Extension agents, farmers, homeowners and green industry professionals with plant health concerns affecting crops, gardens, trees, shrubs, nurseries, landscapes and forests. Its findings are also shared through the Kentucky Pest News newsletter.
Most samples arrive through county Extension agents, who help clients identify problems and submit plant material for laboratory analysis. When issues involve insects, soil, or crop management rather than plant diseases, laboratory staff collaborate with specialists in other university departments.
“We are helping individual growers with a specific problem so they can protect their crop and know how to manage it,” Beale said. “But there is also a broader goal. We are on the front lines of safeguarding agriculture from exotic and emerging plant diseases.”
Established in 2002 with federal support, the NPDN connects diagnostic laboratories across all 50 states and four U.S. territories. Its work supports early detection of pests and diseases that could threaten agricultural production and natural ecosystems.
In 2024, network laboratories recorded 225,829 diagnoses in the National Data Repository, covering 78% of U.S. counties, and reported 193 first detections of organisms within individual states.
According to Department of Plant Pathology Chair Gary Munkvold, the accreditation strengthens the laboratory’s reputation and supports its future development.
The facility is preparing to move into the university’s new Agricultural Research Building, while the UK Research and Education Center branch in Western Kentucky is expected to reopen in early 2027.
These improvements are expected to expand diagnostic capacity, strengthen training and continuity, and provide additional services to Kentucky’s agricultural community.
Photo Credit: sabrina-hounshell
Categories: Kentucky, Crops, Education