MU Plant Clinic Names Peng Tian Lab Director
Tian, who previously worked at the University of Florida's plant diagnostic center, now leads daily operations of the University of Missouri's clinic.
Updated on Nov. 3, 2026 in Botany
The University of Missouri Plant Diagnostic Clinic has named Peng Tian as its new lab director, starting in February. Tian joins from the University of Florida Plant Diagnostic Center and coordinates the laboratory's daily operations.
Why it matters
The clinic serves Missourians with plant health diagnostics and helps identify pests with help from MU Plant Sciences faculty. Leadership continuity at the lab affects how quickly growers and homeowners across the state can get samples identified.
The announcement is an institutional personnel update rather than a measured dataset, and it provides only the clinic's 1965 founding year as a figure. Sample volume, turnaround time, and client counts were not disclosed, and it is not stated whether any service changes will follow the leadership transition.
The players
Peng Tian
Tian is a plant scientist with degrees from Shandong Agricultural University, the Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, and the University of Georgia, previously affiliated with the University of Florida Plant Diagnostic Center.
University of Missouri Plant Diagnostic Clinic
The clinic is a University of Missouri service that has identified plant pests and diagnosed plant problems for Missourians since 1965.
The details
Tian studied bioengineering at Shandong Agricultural University, earned a master's degree at the Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, and received a doctorate at the University of Georgia. Samples can be mailed to the clinic or dropped off from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday through Friday, with payment made online or by check or money order.
Timeline
1965: The Plant Diagnostic Clinic began serving Missourians.
February: Peng Tian began as lab director.
Big Picture
Tian's move from the University of Florida Plant Diagnostic Center to the University of Missouri ties two comparable university plant diagnostic programs together through a single leader's career path. The transition moves a diagnostic lab's operations from one state's public university system to another.
Missourians with plant problems can submit samples by mail or drop them off at the clinic on weekdays from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Payment can be made online or by check or money order.
The takeaway
Missouri residents dealing with plant pests or diseases have a year-round option for professional identification through the university clinic. Checking submission rules before mailing or dropping off a sample can save time.
Further reading
For more on plant health and identification, see Botany coverage across Missouri.
More information
Submission instructions and payment details are available on the Plant Diagnostic Clinic sample submission page.
Source note: This article includes information reported by Farm Progress.
