The Hidden Threat To Cannabis Plants: Hop Latent Viroid

Infectious infections cause cannabis growers to lose a lot of time, money, and labor. Because of this, plant scientists have been actively studying this area and working to find cures for these terrible diseases. The Hop Latent Viroid (HLVd), one of these viruses, is a monster. Cannabis plants with HLVD experience reduced development, a loss of vigor, decreased potency and output, and genetic alterations. HLVD Testing is an infectious disease. Adding fuel to the fire, the disease can unintentionally infect nearby plants while lying latent and undetected for years without exhibiting any signs. It is crucial that producers frequently disinfect their tools before starting work on a new plant since contaminated tools and equipment are the most common way for HLVD to spread. When cuttings are taken from an infected mother, HLVD may potentially be spread through cloning.

HLVD Testing has the potential to drastically reduce a crop's production and potency if untreated. Furthermore, the illness may spread to other plants, creating a chain reaction that is difficult to stop. With an estimated 65% infection rate, if the illness is introduced into a commercial plant, it may quickly deteriorate the harvest.

The Original Tale

Hop Latent Viroid, a subviral pathogen that affects hop plants and causes a serious sickness, was tested in 2011 by a stone fruit and walnut ranch in Sutter County using samples of renegade hop plants that were found in a ditch bank. Although the samples were negative, the hop latent viroid was detected in them (HpLVd). It was virtually a pandemic by 2019. In two different studies, Bektaş et al. and Warren et al. both documented occurrences of HpLVd in California. Through RT-PCR testing and high-throughput sequencing, a pathogen that caused havoc on commercial cannabis was discovered in both studies. It is now a widespread threat to plants and the work of cannabis growers, with few if any other options for repair beyond removal.

Finding The Symptoms

Although some infected plants exhibit no symptoms, the following are the most often reported observations of HLVD-infected plants:

• Decreased potency

• Quality decline

• Gain loss

• Slower growth

• Production of trichomes is delayed

• Branch and leaf deformity

• Broken stems

• Decreased rooting

Professor emeritus at the University of California, Dr. Bryce Falk, expresses it like way:

• Perhaps the biggest danger to the legal cannabis market in the US is the hop latent viroid.

• How Do We Approach The Issue?

• What can a grower do to prevent the recurrence of this pervasive hazard to their crop? In order to secure your growth and stop the spread of HLVD Testing, how can you exercise due diligence as a participant in the cannabis industry?

• Prevention is key, and there are several proactive steps you can take to guarantee the security of your harvest.

• Before working on another plant, make sure that all scissors and trimming tools are thoroughly sterilized to reduce the risk of cross-contamination.

• Regularly sanitize and clean your environment.

• Place fresh clones in quarantine until HLVD testing is done.

• Send in samples for testing on a regular basis.

The Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) test is used at MCR Labs to detect HLVD in submitted samples. By dividing a substance into its individual plant cells, we can use this technique to extract the RNA and process it in a thermocycler. If HpLVd is present in the sample, it will reproduce in the thermocycler and create hundreds, if not millions, of copies. To determine the extent and severity of the condition, these duplicates will be examined. Do you think your harvest may have been contaminated with HPLVd? Contact us and send your samples for verification.