D3173: Mobile web pages improve access and expand reach of the Purdue Plant Doctor app diagnostic tool

Problem diagnosis is the most important first step in pest management. In 2010 we began developing a series of mobile apps for smartphones to help the lay public identify and manage pest problems in their home landscapes. These apps were designed to mimic the process we used to teach our clientele and undergraduate students how to diagnose plant problems. To this end, we created a database to drive the diagnosis of over 300 potential problems on over 200 different kinds of trees, shrubs, groundcovers, and flowers. Despite distributing over 15,000 apps by 2018 and high rates of user satisfaction with the diagnostic tool we put in their pockets, our reach to the gardening public was limited. By this time, improvements in the wireless networks made it possible to explore using our database to drive a mobile website that could be accessible to any mobile device and computer. Release of a web version in 2022 allowed us to bypass the expensive, indirect process of updating the apps, and gave us the opportunity to make improvements that help novice users identify host plants and professionals produce printouts of information for their customers. It also helped us expand our reach by linking our diagnostic tools to our award-winning newsletter that has over 4500 subscribers and over 250K views each year. The latest mobile web version is available at PurduePlantDoctor.com.