STA Laboratories, a leading independent innovator of seed quality testing, is pleased to announce the opening of a second location in Gilroy, California. STA Laboratories will be offering seed health testing, plant pathology and electrophoretic genetic purity services at its new California Branch. The facility is located in the Central Coast region of California, the heart of California’s seed industry and an important vegetable production area. The new California Branch features fully equipped laboratories and two expansive greenhouses for pathogen grow-out evaluation and other plant bioassay and diagnostic testing.

STA invites its clients and friends to visit the new facility during an OPEN HOUSE on AUGUST 21, 1998 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. STA Laboratories California Branch is located at 5653 Monterey Frontage Rd, Gilroy, California.

Darrell A. Maddox, President of STA Laboratories states, "Our commitment to providing accurate, scientifically sound, seed and agricultural product testing services, together with superior customer service remains our number one goal. Two laboratories will improve turn-around, increase client contact and provide for customization of services, all key components that we are continually improving for our clients. In addition, a California location provides us with the opportunity to form even stronger partnerships with many of our clients and provide for services such as pathogen exchange, germplasm transfer, mutually beneficial research projects and field inspections."

The facility is managed by plant pathologist, Dr. Colleen Y. Warfield. The facility is now offering the following seed health services: bacterial fruit blotch grow-outs; gummy stem blight and anthracnose; testing of cucurbits; tomato bacteria testing; pepper bacterial spot testing; enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) for tobamovirus of tomato and pepper; and squash mosaic virus testing. Other plant pathology services, such as disease diagnosis and resistant gene documentation are also offered. Genetic services include: electrophoretic hybrid purity for tomato, pepper, brassica and cantaloupe. Additional STA services will be offered in the future.

For more information call STA Laboratories at 1-800-426-9124, the Colorado Branch at 1-303-651-6417 or the California Branch at 1-408-846-9964.

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