Are there reliable apps for plant disease detection?

Plant disease apps provide a rapid assessment of diagnosable plant diseases; however, reliability varies widely. I trialed six plant disease apps last growing season. Of these, three of them were reliable at detecting lab plant disease test results. Which apps are reliable varies based on image quality and symptom stage. Utilize these apps as an alert, but consult a soil test or lab confirmation before determining any management activities.

During the summer of last year, a customer swore that the issue with their roses was a black spot. Although the app recommended applications of neem oil, laboratory tests indicated herbicide drift was the cause. This resulted in three weeks of wasted time. Whenever you can, it's important to confirm what the app suggests with soil EC tests and by using a microscope.

Integrate technology with traditional scouting methods. I pair app scans with weekly at least 10x lens inspections and sticky traps. This hybrid strategy allowed me to detect thrips on my orchids in advance of what the apps picked up. Don't hesitate to update your process throughout the season, powdery mildew detection algorithms are typically more effective post-harvest due to variable types and increased data availability.

Read the full article: Identify Plant Diseases: Detection & Control Guide