By Blake Jackson
The University of Missouri Plant Diagnostic Clinic has received national accreditation from the National Plant Diagnostic Network (NPDN), marking a significant achievement for the long-standing facility.
The four-year accreditation, effective March 1, 2026, highlights the clinic’s dedication to delivering high-quality plant diagnostic services, according to Peng Tian, lab director, and MU assistant extension professor.
Tian and his team established and implemented a comprehensive laboratory management system that fulfills the standards of NPDN’s core accreditation program. With this recognition, the MU clinic joins a select group of Core Accredited Labs at land-grant universities across the country.
“Becoming the 11th lab in the nation to achieve this prestigious accreditation is a major milestone,” Tian said. “It validates our commitment to providing elite plant diagnostic services for MU Extension and strengthens our role in the NPDN mission to protect the health and security of U.S. agricultural and natural ecosystems.”
NPDN is a nationwide network of plant diagnostic laboratories focused on safeguarding agricultural and natural ecosystems. The organization enhances plant health and biosecurity efforts by offering expert diagnostics, coordinated communication and high-quality pest and disease data.
Its national database is the most extensive diagnostic information repository in the United States. In 2024 alone, NPDN labs documented 193 first-time detections of organisms within individual states.
Founded in 1965, the MU Plant Diagnostic Clinic supports extension specialists, agricultural businesses, growers and homeowners. The clinic introduced digital sample submissions in 2025 and continues to accept in-person drop-offs year-round at Mumford Hall in Columbia.
In 2025, staff processed 522 physical samples and 259 digital submissions, with field crops representing the largest category, followed by ornamental plants, fruits and vegetables.
Photo Credit: university-of-missouri
Categories: Missouri, Crops, Education