Hop Latent Viroid (HpLVd)
Hop latent viroid (HpLVd) refers to a single-stranded, circular infectious RNA. Originally identified in hops, HpLVd has made its way to cannabis cultivation sites. In hops, the viroid produces no symptoms. In cannabis and hemp plants, symptoms are referred to as "dubbing" and include the following:
Stunted growth
Reduced vigor
Brittle stems
Smaller flowers
Immature trichomes
Sample Size Required for Analysis: 1 leaf and/or roots
Botrytis
A pathogenic fugus that causes a gray mold on plants, typically leading to rot and decay. In cannabis specifically, Botrytis is known as “bud rot” and tends to affect the top colas of plants in late flower. However, it is able to infect all parts of the plant at any life stage. Symptoms include:
A white dusting on buds in the early stages of infection
Once established, a gray mold on the inner portions of buds, often on the large top colas
Necrosis or dying tissue around the infected area
Sample Size Required for Analysis: 1 leaf near the top of the plant
Fusarium
A group of filamentous fungi found naturally in soil and associated with plants. Often infecting young vegetative plants, fusarium wilt can destroy a crop easily and is hard to combat once it has taken hold in an environment. Infection often occurs initially in roots but quickly spreads throughout the plant. Symptoms include:
Leaf spotting and curling
Wilting of leaves
Eventual necrosis of plant tissue
Sample Size Required for Analysis: 1 leaf and 1-2 in. of roots (preferably larger in diameter)
Tobacco Mosaic Virus
Tobacco Mosaic Virus is a single-stranded RNA virus that infects a wide variety of herbaceous plants. The first plant virus ever discovered, it doesn't have a cure and can severely stunt the plant's growth. Symptoms in cannabis plants include:
Mottled, twisting leaves
Slow growth
Mosaic (striped) yellow pattern on leaves
Low potency
Often confused with the occasional genetic mutation which causes a two toned leaf blade
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