Diagnostician:
Wilma van der Westhuizen

Collaborating researchers and diagnosticians involved:
Laura Huisman (Private), Dr. Tian Schutte (Fruit+Foliar diseases and Citrus Black Spot), Prof. Gerhard Pietersen (ARC), Dr. Fanie van Vuuren, Glynnis Cook and Kobus Breytenbach (Graft transmissible diseases), MC Pretorius (Soilborne diseases), Keith Lesar (Post-harvest diseases), Drs. Tim Grout and Aruna Manrakhan (Integrated Pest Management), Johan Joubert (Cultivar Evaluation).

The Diagnostic Centre is situated in Nelspruit and provides diagnostic and technical services to citrus fruit growers, other role players in the Citrus Industry and the Citrus Improvement Programme. Diagnostic services offered are summarised below:

Soilborne diseases
Soil and root analysis for nematodes
Soil, root and water analysis for Phytophthora or Pythium
Bio-assay for advanced microbial degradation of nematicides
Contract evaluation of crop protection products

Graft transmissible diseases
Diagnosis through visual assessment, biological indexing, ELISA and PCR
Pathogen elimination from propagation material through shoot-tip-grafting

Citrus Black Spot
Diagnosis through visual assessment, conventional and molecular techniques
Fungicide resistance screening
Market access support
Contract evaluation of crop protection products

Fruit+Foliar diseases
Diagnosis through visual assessment, conventional and molecular techniques
Fungicide resistance screening
Fungicide spray deposition assessment
Contract evaluation of crop protection products

Postharvest diseases
Diagnosis through visual assessment, conventional and molecular techniques
Fungicide resistance screening
Analysis of packhouse water samples
Contract evaluation of crop protection products

Horticulture
Internal fruit quality
Cultivar evaluation

Entomology
Diagnosis through visual assessment and conventional techniques
Red scale organophosphate resistance
Contract evaluation of crop protection products

More information on services and prices can be enquired from Wilma van der Westhuizen, CRI-Diagnostic Centre, P O Box 28, NELSPRUIT 1200, Tel# 013-7598000