Plant Disease Diagnostic Laboratory

The PDDL was established at Leyte State University (LSU) and now Visayas State University (VSU) with a collaborative funding from the Federal Republic of Germany under the GTZ Leyte Island Program for equipment and supplies, and the Government of the Republic of the Philippines. The Philippine counterpart is jointly funded by the Philippine Council for Agriculture, Forestry and Natural Resources Research and Development (PCARRD) for MOOE, the Department of Science and Technology (DOST), for Equipment, and VSU for Infrastructure and manpower. The PDDL is under the Office of Research and Extension, VSU.

A diagnostic Laboratory that could assist research centers in the supply of each clean planting materials to clientele and that could cater to the needs of farmers in the identification of important crop diseases was therefore necessary.

Capabilities of the Laboratory

PDDL offers early detection of diseases especially virus diseases of abaca. A DNA-based detection of abaca and banana bunchy top viruses (ABTV abaca_diseaseand BBTV) was optimized for PDDL using a virus-specific DNA oligonucleotide primer. This method was used for disease indexing tissue cultured abaca plant materials from the National Abaca Research Center (NARC) and diagnosing abaca leaf samples submitted by farmers.

PDDL also accepts for diagnosis other diseases of abaca and other plants in collaboration with the Pest Clinic of the Department of Pest Management. The laboratory conducts routine diagnosis of plant disease problems (based on symptoms and signs) for specimens that will be brought to the lab and recommend control measures to farmers. The PDDL staff can also do field visits of infested areas if necessary.

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