Karen Snover-Clift and Barb Riker, Cornell University (NEPDN); Eric Newberry and Gem Santillana, USDA-APHIS-PPQ-S&T, PPCDL
The Communicator: Volume 6, Issue 7, July 2025

2025 marked the 23rd anniversary of the NPDN-PPCDL advanced diagnostic workshops, held annually at the USDA's Plant Pathogen Confirmatory Diagnostics Laboratory (PPCDL). The workshop topics were offered virtually and in-person for the third year and included an addition of an ELISA workshop's preliminary course in the NPDN's Learning Management System. This article provides a review of the 2025 PPCDL Workshop season.

Let's begin with a summary of what WE accomplished. The "WE" here is a large team effort that includes everyone involved in the planning, participation, and execution of the 2025 workshop season. To all planning team members, instructors and participants - THANK YOU for another great workshop season!     

Some 2025 workshop statistics

8 workshops
6 in-person workshops at the PPCDL (43 attendees)
2 virtual workshops (37 attendees)
 
7 different topics (*new topic for 2025)
October 2024
*Ralstonia solanacearum R3B2
               
March 2025
Phytophthora 101
                Phytoplasmas Molecuular Detection
                *Phytophthora austrocedri
                Seed Pathogen Testing
                Sample Submission for Confirmatory Diagnostic Testing
                ELISA Fundamentals
April 2025
                Sample Submission for Confirmatory Diagnostic Testing
 
In total, the workshops covered 17 days over six weeks and a total of 80 course completions.
 

New Topics for 2025

Two new topics introduced in the 2025 season were important ones: Ralstonia and a new Phytophthora!
 
The Ralstonia solanacearum R3B2 molecular diagnostic methods workshop offered in October 2024 covered a topic that was taught years ago but required creation of all new material. Seven diagnosticians from key laboratories that are likely to see Ralstonia suspect samples were invited to this workshop. Delivery of this workshop was timed to prepare these diagnosticians for the upcoming shipping season which begins in November each year.
 
Phytophthora austrocedri, was added to the 2025 workshop line-up following the successful development of testing procedures through a 2024 collaboration with PPCDL scientists, led by John Bienapfl and Michigan State University diagnosticians, Laura Miles and NCPDN Director, Jan Byrne. NPDN members were excited to learn that the new procedure was ready to share and workshop spaces filled quickly! The initial plan was to add the P. austrocedri training to the existing Phytophthora 101 Workshop, extending the training from three days to four and a half days. There was so much interest from those that had already taken Phytophthora 101, that the planning team requested an additional stand-alone workshop. Therefore, the topic was presented twice, once as part of Phytophthora 101 and a second time, as a single topic Phytophthora austrocedri workshop.
 

Additional 2025 topics

Some old favorites returned in 2025. The workshop season kicked off on March 3rd with Phytophthora 101, which was followed by a week of two topics held back-to-back (Phytoplasmas Molecular Detection and Phytophthora austrocedri). The next two weeks offered the Seed Pathogen Testing workshop and the ELISA Fundamentals workshop.
These in-person sessions continue to be extremely valuable for a multitude of reasons.
Diagnosticians:

  • learn from the PPCDL scientists that perform these procedures on real-world samples
  • gain experience by completing all steps of the process
  • receive guidance and tips to achieve successful runs
  • operate a variety of equipment and use supplies that work best for the job
  • learn how to analyze and interpret the results

The Sample Submission for Confirmatory Diagnostic Testing workshop was the only virtual option offered in 2025, and it was offered twice to accommodate all those hoping to attend.
 

LMS Best Laboratory Practices Requirement-Year 2

The Best Laboratory Practices (BLP) workshop was first offered in 2023. Beginning in 2024, a new policy required participants to complete this course before attending any PPCDL Workshop. As of last year, a total of 120 NPDN members, partners and colleagues completed the BLP workshop, either in the live session or in year one of the online course. In 2025, an additional 26 participants completed the LMS BLP course to be cleared for attending a PPCDL workshop.
 
All LearnUpon users have access and are welcome to take the BLP workshop course whenever it is convenient for them to do so. Some have told us that they have new hires complete the course as part of their orientation process. An additional 25 people took the course, even though they were not required to do so. With these additions, a total of 171 have completed the BLP course to date.
 

2025 LMS PPCDL BLP Pre-Course-Required Completions

Uta McKelvy (Montana State University); Phillip Lujan (New Mexico State University); Srijana Dura (New Mexico State University); Kylee Sanchez (New Mexico State University); Alejandro Numez Mendoza (New Mexico State University); Ana Cristina Fulladolsa Palma (University of Maryland); Glenn Bydalek (Nevada Dept. of Agriculture); Laxmi Pandey (University of Georgia); Raquel Hill (University of Florida); Dhiraj Gautam (Alliance of Pest Control Districts); Yu-Chen Wang (University of California); Bo Liu (University of New Hampshire); Caroline Rowan (Auburn University); Riley Moore (Pennsylvania Dept. of Agriculture); Jackie Beacham (New Mexico State University); Taylor Klass (University of Arkansas); Sophie Filbert (Kansas State University); Matthew Cullen (Missouri Dept. of Agriculture); Jorge Alberto Reyes Pineda (University of Geogia); Jesus Barraza (New Mexico State University); Kameron Kilday (University of Vermont); Therese Miller (Ohio State University); Kelly Iverson (Iowa State University); Diana Ramirez Segovia (North Carolina State University); Gianna A. Fernandez Soto (University of Puerto Rico)
 
The PPCDL Workshops are supported by the USDA-APHIS Plant Pest and Disease Management and Disaster Prevention Program under PPA 7721. These valuable training opportunities would not be available without this support and the commitment of the PPCDL Scientists and Leadership.
 
Check out your group picture, or your NPDN colleagues, in the following images taken at each workshop.
 

Ralstonia solanacearum R3B2 Molecular Diagnostic Methods Workshop (Oct. 8-10 2024)

A small group of people standing in front of a large brick marquee.
Instructors and Participants: Joe Viglienzoni (California Dept. of Food and Ag.), Yazmin Rivera (Instructor, USDA-APHIS-PPQ-S&T PPCDL), John Kaszan (Instructor, USDA-APHIS-PPQ-S&T PPCDL) Brijesh Karakkat (Instructor, USDA-APHIS-PPQ-S&T PPCDL),  John Bonkowski (Purdue University), Laura Miles (Michigan State University), Karen Snover-Clift (Cornell University), Stephanie Shea (University of Maine), Archana Pal (University of Florida), Chandler Day (Kansas State University), Eric Newberry (Instructor, USDA-APHIS-PPQ-S&T PPCDL), Gem Santillana (Instructor, USDA-APHIS-PPQ-S&T PPCDL), Lily Wang (USDAAPHIS-PPQ-S&T PPCDL Assistant)

Phytophthora 101 Workshop (March 3-7, 2025)

A group of people standing in front of a large brick marquee
Instructors and Participants: Vanina Castroagudin (Instructor, USDA-APHIS-PPQ-S&T PPCDL) Kurt Zeller (Instructor, USDA-APHIS-PPQ-S&T PPCDL), Riley Moore (Pennsylvania Dept. of Agriculture); Jill Pollok (University of Delaware); Giovanna Sassi (University of Vermont); John Bienapfl (Instructor, USDA-APHIS-PPQ-S&T PPCDL); Felicia Millett (Connecticut Ag. Experimental Station); Raquel Hill (University of Florida); Jorge Alberto Reyes Pineda (University of Georgia); unknown; Glenn Bydalek (Nevada Dept. of Agriculture)

Phytoplasma Molecular Detection Workshop (March 10-11, 2025)

A group of people standing in front of a large brick marquee
Instructors and Participants: Dhiraj Gautam (Alliance of Pest Control Districts); Josiah Matai Koki Marquez (Hawaii Dept. of Agriculture); Matias Reynoso (Colorado State University); Peng Tian (University of Missouri); Glenn Bydalek (Nevada Dept. of Agriculture); Jarred Yasuhara-Bell (Instructor, USDA-APHIS-PPQ-S&T PPCDL); Karen Snover-Clift (Cornell University); Shelby Weber (University of Florida);  Telissa Wilson (Washington State Dept. of Agriculture)

Phytophthora austrocedri Workshop (March 12-13, 2025)

A group of people standing in front of a large brick marquee
Instructors and Participants:  Vanina Castroagudin (Instructor, USDA-APHIS-PPQ-S&T PPCDL); Tatsiana Shymanovich (Pennsylvania Dept. of Agriculture); Peng Tian (University of Missouri); Colette Gabriel (Ohio Dept. of Agriculture); Jason Pavel (University of Arkansas); Kyle Broderick (University of Lincoln-Nebraska); Karen Snover-Clift (Cornell University); Tashi Gyatso (Virginia Dept. of Agriculture & Consumer Services); Claudia A. Paez Escudero (Florida Dept. of Agriculture & Consumer Services); John Bienapfl (Instructor, USDA-APHIS-PPQ-S&T PPCDL)

Seed Pathogen Testing Workshop (March 18-19, 2025)

A group of people standing in front of a large brick marquee
Instructors and Participants:  Muhammad Ilyas (Instructor, USDA-APHIS-PPQ-S&T, PPCDL); Matthew Cullen (Missouri Dept. of Agriculture); Gabriela Benito (University of Hawaii); Jorge Alberto Reyes Pineda (University of Georgia); Yu-Chen Wang (University of California Cooperative Extension); Kelly Iverson (Iowa State University); Raquel Hill (University of Florida)

Sample Submission for Confirmatory Diagnostic Testing Workshop (March 24, 2025)

A screenshot of the various participants in a zoom meeting.
Instructors and Participants: Sandra Jensen (Cornell University); Karen Snover-Clift (Moderator, Cornell University); Ben Adducci and John Kaszan (Instructors, USDA-APHIS-PPQ-S&T PPCDL); Diana Ramirez Segovia (North Carolina State University); Matt Bertone (North Carolina State University); Megan Romberg (Instructor, USDA-APHIS-PPQ); Barb Riker (Moderator Assist, Cornell University); Matthew Cullen (Missouri Dept. of Agriculture); Taylor Klass (University of Arkansas); Sylvia Moraes (University of Tennessee); Rachel Knier (Pennsylvania Dept. of Agriculture);  Laxmi Pandey (University of Georgia); Gem Santillana (Instructor, USDA-APHIS-PPQ-S&T PPCDL); Raquel Hill (University of Florida); Eric Newberry (Instructor, USDA-APHIS-PPQ-S&T PPCDL); Uta McKelvy (Montana State University);  Heather Poyner (Michigan State Dept. of Agriculture);  Sara May (Pennsylvania State University);  Glenn Bydalek (Nevada Dept. of Agriculture);  Swarnalatha Moparthi (North Carolina State University);  Jenna Gortari – no picture (Nevada Dept. of Agriculture); Francesca Rotondo – no picture (Ohio State University); Michael J. Munster- no picture (North Carolina State University)

ELISA Fundamentals Workshop (March 25-26, 2025)

A group of people standing in front of a large brick marquee
Instructors and Participants: Ben Adducci (Instructor, USDA-APHIS-PPQ-S&T, PPCDL); David Rowe, (Assistant, USDA-APHIS-PPQ-S&T, PPCDL); unknown; Romina Gazis-Seregina (University of Florida); Sophie Filbert (Kansas State University); Gabriel Dario Munoz Herrera (University of Georgia); Gabriela Benito (University of Hawaii); Bo Liu (University of New Hampshire); Ashley Grace (Pennsylvania Dept. of Agriculture); Yonghao Li (The Connecticut Agricultural Experiment Station)

Sample Submission for Confirmatory Diagnostic Testing Workshop (April 4, 2025)

A screenshot of the various participants in a zoom meeting.
Instructors and Participants:  John Kaszan (Instructor, USDA-APHIS-PPQ-S&T PPCDL); Karen Snover-Clift (Moderator, Cornell University); Ben Adducci (Instructor, USDA-APHIS-PPQ-S&T PPCDL); Alex Hu (University of Arizona); Megan Romberg (Instructor, USDA-APHIS-PPQ); Alejandra Maria Jimenez Madrid (University of Geogia); Ana Cristina Fulladolsa Palma (University of Maryland); Gabriel Dario Munoz Herrera (University of Georgia); Kylee Sanchez (New Mexico State University); Srijana Dura (New Mexico State University); Caroline Rowan (Auburn University); Phillip Lujan (New Mexico State University);  Dhiraj Gautam (Alliance of Pest Control Districts); Jorge Alberto Reyes Pineda (University of Georgia); Keiddy Urrea-Morawicki (University of Rhode Island);  Jackie Beacham (New Mexico State University); Therese Miller (Ohio State University); Gianna A. Fernandez Soto (University of Puerto Rico); Kameron Kilday (University of Vermont);  Jesus Barraza (New Mexico State University); Gem Santillana (Instructor, USDA-APHIS-PPQ-S&T PPCDL); Alejandro Nunez Mendoza (New Mexico State University); Joseph Viglienzoni (California Dept. of Food and Agriculture); Yu-Chen Wang (University of California  University)
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