Hop Latent Viroid: A New Service HPLVD Testing

Cannabis "dudding" is brought on by the infectious virus known as hop latent viroid. Experts from Verne Bioanalytics use specialized methods and cutting-edge equipment to determine which plants are asymptomatic as well as to confirm the presence of the virus in symptomatic plants. Cannabis "dudding" is brought on by the single-stranded, circular, infectious virus known as the hop latent viroid (HpLVd). Long years of dormancy can pass before HPLVD Testing manifests in a cannabis plant as aberrant branching, decreased trichome production, chlorosis of the leaves, and stunted development, among other signs. Shears and interactions between infected and healthy plants can make HPLVD Testing easily transmissible and spread.

Verne Bio uses molecular techniques based on PCR thermocycling that are specially created for our equipment and target HpLVd with excellent specificity and sensitivity. Our HpLVd detection assay makes it possible to not only identify asymptomatic infected plants so they can be taken out of production but also to confirm the virus' presence in symptomatic plants.

Hop Latent Viroid Testing Is Available At Verne Bio Labs

In the hemp and cannabis farming areas, the single-stranded, circular infectious RNA known as the Hop Latent Viroid (HpLVd) is rife. HpLVd-infected cannabis may or may not exhibit any outward symptoms, but knowing what those signs can be is crucial to fighting this virus. Since the 2017 discovery of HpLVd, research has been conducted, and there are now solutions and testing capabilities. We are happy to inform you that Verne Bio Lab is now providing HPLVD Testing. Physical signs of HpLVd in Cannabis sativa include slowed development, a brittle stem, or observable leaf deformity. When cannabis plants become infected, they become shorter, have smaller leaves, and tighter node spacing. As a result, their buds become stunted as well, becoming smaller, more dispersed, and with a lot fewer trichomes. Along with these harmful characteristics in its name—Hop Latent Viroid—it also exhibits harmful physical signs. It is nearly impossible to identify the virus without testing since it might persist latently or inactively within affected plants. These all add to the undetectable issue of potency. HpLVd-infected plants may have half as many cannabinoids as healthy plants.

Controlling Tests Showed The Spread

Verne Bio analytical laboratory's infrastructure and testing tools enable enhanced HPLVD Testing screening services. Even the most asymptomatic samples can be detected by testing, which can also notify clients of a HpLVd outbreak among their animals. Plant pathogens known as plant viroids induce plant disease, which reduces crop production, yield, and potency. These extremely transmissible viroids are frequently too tiny to be observed under a microscope. Hop Latent Viroid (HLVd), also referred to as the dudding disease, can ruin a cultivation. It's crucial to isolate new plants and clones until they can be examined since plants can be asymptomatic and still spread the viroid to other plants.

Verne Bioanalytics Nursery Research Discovers Hop Latent Viroid Testing Positive in 90% of California Facilities

The Verne Bio Nursery team published the results of a formal study of cannabis growers in California earlier this summer: 90% of the California facilities tested positive for hop latent viroid after almost 200,000 tissue samples (HPLVD Testing). The Verne Bio team estimates that the presence of that pathogen—to that extent—could be responsible for a $4 billion loss in cannabis crop production. From August 2018 to July 2021, the tests were conducted at more than 100 approved cannabis facilities. This project started during the study phase in which Verne Bio linked HpLVd to a group of concerning symptoms known at the time as "dudders" or "dudding." This includes weak stems, limited trichome production, and stunted plants, among other things.

We were aware of the industry's production issues—poor yields and low trichome levels—very early on. We invested the time to conduct the necessary research, RNA sequencing, and determine the true reason for it. Only the infected [plants] had the latent hop virus; the healthy ones did not. However, merely identifying the pathogen was insufficient. The virus was discovered, removed by the Verne Bioanalytics team, isolated in a pure culture, and then introduced to a plant that was otherwise healthy. They observed the well-known signs right away.