GENERAL DIAGNOSTIC REFERENCES: KEYS TO PLANT IDENTIFICATION AND DIAGNOSIS OF PLANT PROBLEMS.

DISEASES OF TREES AND SHRUBS. 1987. Wayne A. Sinclair, Howard H. Lyon and Warren T. Johnson. This Comprehensive, up-to-date reference book has 576 pages, 247 color plates, 18 black-and-white illustrations in a 9 x 12 inch page-size format is priced at $49.95. An easily used, authoritative reference that is a reliable diagnostic aid that focuses on what can be seen with the unaided eye or with a hand lens. Includes diagnostic information on plant damage caused by both pathogen and nonliving factors such as environmental extremes, mechanical-physical damage, and chemical disorders. The book is available from: Cornell University Press, 124 Roberts Place, P.O. Box 250, Ithaca, NY 14851-0250.

WOODY ORNAMENTALS: PLANTS AND PROBLEMS. 1980. R. E. Partyka, J. W. Rimelspach, B. G. Joyner, S. A. Carver. Produced, published and copy-righted by ChemLawn Corp, 450 West Wilson Bridge Road, Columbus, OH. Printed and distributed by Hammer Graphics, Inc., P. O. Box 640, Piqua, Ohio, 45356. This hardback, 429-page book contains over 400 color pictures and over 400 black-and-white illustrations to assist the amateur as well as the professional in identifying plants, diagnosing plant disorders, and problem solving. It is well-organized (and, cross referenced), fairly complete in detail, and written in easy to understand language. This book can be purchased for $36.50 from: AgAccess, P.O. Box 2008, Davis, CA 95617.

The major sections are: Plant identification characteristics (taxonomic key, plant illustrations and color photos); functions of plant parts; disease problems; insect problems and other animal pests; physiological disorders; chemical injury; troubleshooting plant problems; ornamental plant problems key (diagnostic key with plants listed alphabetically by common names–latin genus and species and common name are cross referenced both ways in the Botanical Name Index and the Common Name Index in the back of the book) with color photo illustrations of common symptoms; and, avoiding and solving plant problems. There are two appendices: Appendix A, Plant Recommendations Based on Susceptibility to Problems; Appendix B, Plant Recommendations for Specific Problems.

The “Plant Problem Key” and accurate photographs of plant problems are very valuable diagnostic tools. This is one of the most useful books for assistance in diagnosing plant problems.

MANUAL OF WOODY LANDSCAPE PLANTS. (Their identification, ornamental characteristics, culture, propagation, and uses). Third edition, revised in 1983. Michael A. Dirr. Published by Stipes Publishing Company, 10-12 Chester Street, Champaign, IL 61820. This book does exactly what the title indicates plus it indicates the more prevalent problems that might occur with each plant species and cultivar such as insect and pathogen problems, cultural requirements (i.e. pH, soil moisture, etc). It supplies valuable information on identifying characteristics of a range of cultivars of each species so the diagnostician can determine if the plant’s appearance is normal for that cultivar. The information on propagation and culture is also useful in diagnosing plant problems.

HILLIER’S MANUAL OF TREES & SHRUBS, 5th edition, 1981. Harold G. Hillier. Van Nostrand Reinhold Company Inc, 135 West 50th St, New York, NY 10020. This reference provides descriptions and information on identifying characteristics of the signifi-cant cultivars of over 700 genera of landscape plants.

DIAGNOSIS OF PLANT DISEASES. Extension Bulletin 0751 (WSU Bulletin Department, Coop. Extn. Svc., Cooper Publications Bldg., Washington State University, Pullman, WA 99164-592, cost 25 cents/ copy). Revised 1982. Otis C. Maloy.

DISEASES AND PESTS OF ORNAMENTAL PLANTS, 5th Edition. 1978. P. P. Pirone. John Wiley and Sons, Inc.

FOLIAGE PLANT PRODUCTION. 1981. Jasper N. Joiner, Editor. Published by Prentice-Hall, Inc. Englewood Cliffs, NJ 07632. This book includes chapters on prevention and diagnosis of foliage plant problems: pathogens, insects and mites, nutritional and environmental disorders.

FOLIAGE PLANT PROBLEMS, A PICTORIAL ATLAS OF. 1983. Richard W. Henley, editor. Avail-able for $5.00/ copy from: Florida Foliage Association, P.O. Box Y, Apopka, FL 32703.40-page manual with approximately 160 full-color illustrative photographs has seven major sections: physiological disorders, plant diseases, insect and mite injury, nematode injury, other pest damage, pesticide phytotoxicity, and other problems. In addition to the printed diagnostic information and symptom description of the major problems occurring on foliage plants, each is accompanied by a color photo further depicting the problem.

HOW TO IDENTIFY RHODODENDRON AND AZALEA PROBLEMS, Extension Bulletin 1229 by A. L. Antonelli, R. S. Byther, R. R. Maleike, S. J. Collman, and A. D. Davison of Washington State University. Available for $3.50 from: Bulletin Office, Cooper Publications Building, WSU, Pullman, WA 99164-5912 (Make check payable to: Cooperative Extension Publications).

This 28-page publication is organized by symptoms: 1) Missing portions of leaves. 2) Spotting, discoloration, or dead areas on leaves. 3) Curling, distortion, or misshapen plant parts. 4) Powdery, granular or other unusual material on leaves or stems. And, 5) Dieback, total decline or poor performance. Forty, high-quality, color photographs clearly illustrate the described plant symptoms and, in many cases, the causes — insects, pathogens, cultural or environmental factors.

CHRISTMAS TREE PEST MANUAL. October 1983. Janine M. Benyus, Writer/Editor. United State Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, North Central Forest Experiment Station. 108 pages. $14.00/ copy from U.S. Government Printing Office, Washing-ton, D.C. 20402.

Color photographs and descriptions of 70 Christmas tree problems will help growers, nursery workers, extension personnel, foresters, and students identify the cause of tree injury. Describes ways to prevent or reduce damage from insects, pathogens, birds, mammals, and environmental factors. Covers North Central and Northeastern U.S. and Southeastern Canada.

This manual is well-written, beautifully designed, and well-indexed and cross-referenced for easy use. The color photographs are of high quality and clearly illustrate the diagnostic signs and symptoms.

REFERENCES REGARDING SPECIFIC FACTORS CAUSING PLANT PROBLEMS

LIVING FACTORS - PROBLEM DIAGNOSIS

INSECT & MITE INJURY DIAGNOSIS

PACIFIC NORTHWEST INSECT CONTROL HANDBOOK. Revised and published annually. Available for $17.50 from: Publication Orders, Agricultural Communications, Oregon State University, Corvallis, OR 97331-2119.

INSECT AND MITE CONTROL IN ORNAMEN-TALS, EB 0826, revised September 1984. By: Arthur Antonelli (Extension Entomologist, WWREC, Puyallup, WA) and Sharon Collman(WSU-King County Extension Agent, Seattle, WA). Available for $1.00 from: Bulletin Office Cooper Publications Build-ing, WSU, Pullman, WA 99164-5912 (Make check payable to: Cooperative Extension Publications). This 45-page spray guide is for both the homeowner and the professional pesticide applicator. Homeowners may use only those materials listed in the publication that are not marked with asterisks. Information is presented in table form: plant groups, i.e. beginning with ‘alder’ and ending with ‘yew’, with associated information for each are arranged alphabetically for quick reference. For each plant, the common pests with descriptions, insecticide and amount of insecticide per gallon of water to use for control, and remarks are listed. The ‘remarks’ column is especially useful and contains information such as time of year pest is prevalent, whether repeat applications might be necessary, possible phytotoxicity, etc. There is also a section titled “General Pests -Ornamentals” that presents identifying characteristics of the pest, insecticide to use for control, and remarks. This is a convenient, easily used publication.

WESTERN FOREST INSECTS. USDA Forest Service Miscellaneous Publication No. 1339. Novem-ber 1977. R. L. Furniss and V. M. Carolin. For sale by the Superintendent of Documents, U.S. Government Printing Office, Washington, D.C. 20402 (Stock Num-ber 001-000-03618-1). This is one of the most used entomology reference books on my shelf. The extensive host index and general index to the information make it very easy and quick to locate needed information on a plant or pest. The clarity and completeness of the information on each pest including life cycles and photoillustrations are invaluable in identifying and diagnosing pest problems on woody plants.

INSECTS THAT FEED ON TREES AND SHRUBS. 1991 (Second edition, revised). W. T. Johnson and H. H. Lyon. Cornell University Press, 124 Roberts Place, P.O. Box 250, Ithaca, NY 14851-0250, $49.50 +$1.50 postage and handling. This 9 X 12, 560 page book has 241 color plates. This reference provides information about more than 950 species of insects, mites and other animals that injure woody ornamental palnts in North America. It will enable the reader to diagnose plant disorders caused by pests and to identify the insect or mite responsible.

IDENTIFICATION OF INSECTS AND RELATED PESTS OF HORTICULTURAL PLANTS. A PIC-TORIAL GUIDE. 1991. Richard K. Lindquist. 43 pages. Ohio Florists’ Association, 2130 Stella Court, Suite 200, Columbus, OH 43215-1033. Telephone 614- 487-1117, FAX 614-487-1216.