Pathogen & Viroid in Cannabis

Pathogens and Viroids are two types of micro-organisms that can causes diseases in plants, with pathogens being typically larger and more complex than Viroids

What are Pathogens & Viroids? Why Test for it?

Pathogens and viroids are harmful microorganisms that can infect and cause diseases in plants, including cannabis.

As explained above, pathogens are microorganisms such as bacteria, viruses, and fungi that can cause infections in plants and disrupt their normal growth and development. They can lead to various symptoms such as leaf spots, wilting, stunted growth, and reduced yield. Pathogen infections in cannabis can result in significant crop losses, decreased quality, and reduced market value of the final product.

Viroids, on the other hand, are small infectious agents composed solely of RNA that can infect and cause diseases in plants. They do not have a protein coat like viruses and can replicate inside the cells of the host plant. Viroid infections in cannabis can lead to symptoms such as leaf curling, yellowing, and reduced yield.

Testing for pathogens and viroids in cannabis is essential to ensure the health and quality of the plants, as well as the safety of the final product. Pathogen and viroid testing helps identify the presence of harmful microorganisms, allowing for timely implementation of appropriate measures to prevent their spread, minimize crop losses, and produce safe and high-quality cannabis products. It also helps meet regulatory requirements, maintain consumer trust, and protect public health by ensuring that cannabis products are free of harmful microorganisms that could potentially cause harm to consumers or the environment.

Our Pathogen and Viroid Tests

At PPB Analytical, we test for viral symptoms in cannabis plants. We test for 7 different types of Viroids and pathogens that can be tested, which can be viewed down below.

Hop Latent Viroid (HLVD)

Cannabis Cryptic Virus

Lettuce Chlorosis Virus

Powdery Mildew

Tobacco Mosaic Virus

Fusarium

Pythium

A Breakdown of Pathogen and Viroid Tests

The viroid/pathogen viroid test can also be used to detect Viroids and other plant pathogens in cannabis plants. Here is a breakdown of the viroid/pathogen viroid test in cannabis:

Sample collection: The first step in the viroid/pathogen viroid test is to collect a sample of cannabis plant tissue that may be infected with viroids or other plant pathogens. The sample can be taken from leaves, stems, or buds.

RNA extraction: Once the sample is collected, the RNA is extracted using a suitable extraction method. RNA extraction is a crucial step in the viroid/pathogen viroid test, as it isolates RNA from the plant tissue, which can then be used for detection.

Reverse transcription: The extracted RNA is converted into complementary DNA (cDNA) using a reverse transcription enzyme. This step is necessary because most viroid tests use a polymerase chain reaction (PCR) amplification step, which requires DNA as a template.

PCR amplification: The cDNA is then subjected to PCR amplification using specific primers designed to amplify the target viroid or pathogen sequence. The PCR amplification step exponentially increases the amount of DNA in the sample, making it easier to detect the viroid or pathogen.

Detection: The amplified DNA is then detected using a suitable detection method, such as gel electrophoresis or fluorescence detection. The presence of a band or signal at the expected size indicates the presence of the target viroid or pathogen.

Learn more about Pathogen and Viroid Testing in these Blog Posts

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