Soil & Water Testing
Protect Your Crops from Hidden Threats Beneath the Surface
Did you know that some plant diseases don't just live in plants—but also in the soil and water your crops depend on? Many bacterial and fungal pathogens can persist in the environment, silently waiting to infect the next planting. When crops are grown in contaminated soil or irrigated with infected water, the risk of disease—and yield loss—increases dramatically.
Know What’s in Your Soil and Water
At PlantPathLab (California Agri Diagnostics), we help growers detect harmful plant pathogens in soil and water before they impact crop health. Early detection is key to preventing disease outbreaks and protecting your harvest.
We offer comprehensive testing for common soil- and water-borne pathogens, including but not limited to:
- Bacterial pathogens (e.g., Ralstonia, Agrobacterium)
- Fungal pathogens (e.g., Phytophthora, Fusarium, Pythium)
Advanced Testing Methods You Can Trust: Our diagnostic lab uses a combination of advanced techniques for accurate detection and identification:
- Selective media plating for culturing pathogens
- Microscopic analysis to identify morphological traits
- PCR and RT-PCR for rapid, DNA-based detection
- DNA sequencing for precise species identification
🌱 Why It Matters
By understanding the health of your soil and water, you can make informed decisions, reduce disease risk, and ensure higher yields and sustainable crop production.
Nematode Testing
Protect Your Crops from Invisible Invaders
Plant-parasitic nematodes are microscopic pests that cause major crop losses worldwide. These hidden threats attack plant roots, disrupt nutrient uptake, and weaken plant health—often without visible symptoms until significant damage is done.
At PlantPathLab (California Agri Diagnostics), we specialize in accurate nematode detection and identification to help you safeguard your crops and maximize yields.
Our team uses the Baermann Funnel method to extract live nematodes from soil and plant samples. We then study their morphological characteristics under the microscope to identify parasitic species. For precise species-level identification, we also offer advanced PCR testing and DNA sequencing, providing you with detailed insights into the nematode populations affecting your field.
Microbial Activity Analysis
Understand Your Soil's Health—From the Microbes Up
Microorganisms are the first responders to environmental change. Whether it's chemical inputs, shifts in moisture, or temperature fluctuations, microbial communities quickly react—and their response can tell you a lot about the health and sustainability of your soil or environment.
At PlantPathLab (California Agri Diagnostics), we offer Microbial Activity Analysis to help you monitor and understand these hidden but vital communities. By tracking changes in microbial populations, you gain early insights into overall soil health, fertility, and environmental stability.
We use Biolog EcoPlates™, a cutting-edge tool for profiling microbial communities through Community-Level Physiological Profiling (CLPP). Each EcoPlate tests 31 carbon sources—repeated three times per plate for precision—and measures how microbial communities metabolize them. The result? A metabolic fingerprint unique to your soil or sample, providing a sensitive and detailed snapshot of microbial function and diversity.
This technique allows us to detect:
- Environmental stress or contamination
- Soil health trends over time
- Impacts of agricultural practices
- Spatial and temporal changes in microbial activity