The initial certification exam will be given following the training in the same locations. UT personnel can take the exam at no charge, but still must register with the Exam Fee form so that TDA will have the correct number and category of test's available. Pre-registration will be required as seating is limited at some sites. While great at disinfecting inanimate objects, most are poor fungicides because of little or no residual activity. Before using greenhouse disinfectants, tools, flats and pots should be relatively clean and free of soil and organic matter.
Dirty surfaces tie up most disinfectants quickly.
Most inanimate objects should be clean and subjected to disinfectants for at least 10 minutes to be effective. Sanitation practices are a simple but often overlooked method of controlling plant diseases. The revised publication PB 1622, Disease and Insect Control in Home Fruit Plantings, should be available from the printers soon. Two changes were made in the disease-control recommendations. Benomyl was removed because of the unavailability of this product for homeowner use.