Citizen science in plant disease surveillance

Plant diseases cause an estimated 30% annual crop yield loss worldwide, resulting in hundreds of billions of dollars in economic damage and increasingly threatening native and ornamental plants through global trade and environmental change. In the United States, the National Plant Diagnostic Network (NPDN) plays a critical role in safeguarding agricultural biosecurity; however, limited personnel and uneven diagnostic capacity highlight the need for new approaches to enhance disease surveillance. Citizen science, defined as public participation in scientific data collection, has proven effective in ecology and environmental monitoring but remains underutilized in plant pathology, prompting the need to assess its applicability in this field. This study represents the first national effort to evaluate citizen scientists’ perspectives on participation in plant disease research. To address this objective, a nine-question online survey was distributed to approximately 500 individuals, including Master Gardeners, Extension professionals, and plant enthusiasts, yielding 233 completed responses. Results indicated strong interest in contributing to plant disease data collection, with participants emphasizing the importance of accessible education, diagnostic guidance, and user-friendly reporting platforms. Although challenges related to diagnostic accuracy and potential user bias persist, the findings suggest that structured training, educational support, and professional validation could enable citizen science to become a valuable tool for expanding plant disease surveillance. To the extent of our knowledge, this work provides the first evidence-based insight into citizen scientists’ readiness to engage in plant disease monitoring and offers practical guidance for developing inclusive and effective plant health programs.