More than 90% of California Cannabis Farms are Infected with a Severe Revenue-Destroying Pathogen, Hop-latent viroid (HLVd)
More than 90% of California cannabis farms are infected with a ‘severe’ pathogen called Hop-Latent Viroid (HLVd). An infectious pathogen inside California’s pot farms called Hop-latent viroid, or HLVd is attacking cannabis plants and growing invisibly for months only to spoil a crop just as a farmer is ready to harvest. Scientists believe that it’s in nearly every cannabis farm in California and could be causing billions of dollars in damages to the U.S.’s largest State and it’s largest cannabis economy. [1]
Hop-latent viroid, or HLVd, shrivels pot plants and reduces how much weight they produce by as much as 30%. It also destroys the amount of THC, marijuana's most common active compound, that a plant produces, greatly reducing the value of affected plants. [1]
HLVd was first documented in cannabis in a pair of scientific studies published in 2019, including a study that confirmed the viroid’s presence in samples from a Santa Barbara pot farm. It’s now infected at least 90% of California’s cannabis grows, according to a 2021 estimate. It’s spreading globally, and a recent scientific paper declared the pathogen was the “biggest concern for cannabis” growers worldwide. [4] [5] [6]
Hop-latent viroid (HLVd is a serious disease that can devastate cannabis crops. The viroid causes a number of symptoms, including stunted growth, leaf curling, and discoloration. In severe cases, HLVd can kill entire plants.
HLVd has likely been spreading in cannabis farms for more than a decade, but at first, growers didn’t know what was harming their harvest. It was commonly called “dudding,” and it would only show up at the end of the crop’s life cycle, distorting the plant’s shape and reducing the amount of active compounds produced, like THC, by as much as 50%. This effect can destroy the retail value of a crop. [7]
HLVd’s late-acting symptoms make it a pernicious pest for modern cannabis farming. Farmers commonly grow cannabis by cutting small pieces off of one plant, frequently called the “mother,” which is then used to propagate hundreds of new baby plants.
These mother plants are artificially prevented from growing flowers, which allows them to keep producing offspring, but it also delays the symptoms of HLVd. That means a single mother plant infected with HLVd could silently spread the pathogen for months without showing any symptoms of the disease.
HLVd was first identified in hop plants, a close relative of cannabis, in the 1980s. It’s now commonly found in hop farms and can reduce the amount of aromatic compounds produced by hops, which are primarily used to flavor beer. [8]
In 2019, HLVd was first identified in cannabis when scientists confirmed the viroid’s presence in samples from a Santa Barbara pot farm. But by 2021, the viral pathogen had spread to at least 90% of the state’s pot farms, according to a 2021 survey that sampled 200,000 California cannabis plants.
And now the viroid has spread to pot farms across the world, from Massachusetts to Europe. [9] [6] [10]
Traditional methods of treating HLVd, such as fungicides and insecticides, are often toxic and ineffective. In addition, these treatments are harmful to the environment and can leave residues on the plants that can be toxic to consumers. The deleterious health problems caused by toxicants are increasing due to their penetration and accumulation through the food chain, and their persistence in the ecosystem. Such contaminants can cause acute and chronic diseases in the human body, such as lung cancer, renal dysfunction, osteoporosis, and cardiac failure. [2]
UV-C and 222nm Far UV-C are emerging technologies that show promise for treating HLVd. UV-C light is a type of ultraviolet radiation that has a wavelength of 200-280 nanometers. 222nm Far UV-C light is a type of UV-C light that has a wavelength of 222 nanometers. If you wish to destroy pathogens like HLVd, using 222nm far UV-C, 222nm light photons travel 1000 feet in one microsecond. Photons from the lamp reach an opposing wall in 1/20 of a microsecond. At 500 feet per minute air flow, it can achieve 4-log reduction in bacteria at a treatment time less than 1/8 second. That means that Far-UV line-of-sight disinfection can prevent viruses from surviving any airborne trip inside a light zone of a Far-UV lamp. [3]
UV-C and 222nm Far UV-C light are both non-toxic and environmentally friendly. They are also effective against a wide range of other pathogens, including bacteria, fungi, and mold.
UV-C Treatment for HLVd Management
While specific studies on UV-C treatment for HLVd in cannabis are scarce, the broad efficacy of UV-C in combating plant pathogens and viroids suggests its potential application for managing HLVd infections. UV-C light has been utilized in horticulture and agriculture to control various plant diseases by damaging the genetic material of pathogens.
Benefits of UV-C Treatment
Inactivation of HLVd: UV-C treatment has the potential to disrupt the genetic material of HLVd, inhibiting its replication and reducing the viroid load in cannabis plants. This can help prevent the detrimental effects on yield and THC production caused by HLVd infection.
Non-chemical Approach: UV-C treatment offers a non-chemical alternative to manage HLVd, reducing the reliance on traditional fungicides and pesticides. This can be advantageous for cannabis growers aiming to minimize chemical inputs and adopt sustainable cultivation practices.
Considerations for UV-C Treatment
Dosage and Exposure: Determining the appropriate UV-C dosage and exposure duration is crucial to ensure effective HLVd inactivation while minimizing potential harm to the cannabis plants. Generally dosing infected plants for around 20 seconds per plant 3-5 times per week for approximately 15-30 seconds should be sufficient. Consultation with experts in plant pathology and agricultural research is recommended to establish specific guidelines tailored to HLVd on cannabis.
Implementation and Safety: UV-C treatment should be implemented with care to avoid any adverse effects on plant health. Proper protective measures, such as wearing appropriate eyewear, hazmat suits, and ensuring operator safety, must be followed when working with UV-C lamps or LED systems. With 222nm far UV-C exposure should be limited to about 8 hours per day, as 222nm far UV-C is a shorter wavelength that does not penetrate past the Stratum corneum, the ‘dead layer’ of the skin. [11]
Conclusion
UV-C and 222nm Far UV-C are emerging technologies that show promise for treating HLVd. Although specific studies directly addressing UV-C treatment for HLVd on cannabis are currently limited, the potential of UV-C light to inactivate plant pathogens and viroids suggests its applicability in managing HLVd infections. UV-C treatment offers a non-chemical approach to mitigate the detrimental effects of HLVd on cannabis plants, safeguarding crop yield and preserving THC production. While further research is necessary to establish specific guidelines for UV-C treatment of HLVd on cannabis, its potential benefits warrant exploration. By harnessing the power of UV-C treatment, cannabis growers can enhance their ability to combat HLVd, protect crop productivity, and preserve the value of their plants. These technologies are safe, effective, and environmentally friendly. If you are a cannabis grower, (especially a California-based grower) who is struggling to control HLVd, UV-C and 222nm Far UV-C light may be a viable option for you.
Written by: Steve Grabenheimer CEO/CTO/Founder, Covspect
#cannabis #economy #hlvd #hoplatentviroid #profitability #losses #california #californiacannabis #covspect #pathogens #uvc #uvcdisinfection #faruv
References:
[1] SF Gate - https://www.sfgate.com/cannabis/article/cannabis-farms-infectious-pathogen-18115205.php
[2] National Library of Medicine- https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC7996329/
[3] Sterilray Inc. - https://sterilray.com/cannabis/
[4] APS Publications - https://apsjournals.apsnet.org/doi/10.1094/PDIS-03-19-0530-PDN
[5] Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations - https://agris.fao.org/agris-search/search.do?recordID=US202000084276
[6] Cannabis Business Times - https://www.cannabisbusinesstimes.com/news/cannabis-hop-latent-viroid-infections-dark-heart-nursery-crop-loss/
[7] Plant Cell Technology - https://www.plantcelltechnology.com/blog/everything-you-should-know-about-hop-latent-viroid-hplvd/
[8] https://apsjournals.apsnet.org/doi/pdf/10.1094/PDIS-92-3-0324
[9] Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations - https://agris.fao.org/agris-search/search.do?recordID=US202000084276
[10] NPR - https://www.npr.org/2023/02/14/1156723242/a-disease-affecting-marijuana-crops-could-force-growers-to-change-their-practice
[11] Sterilray Inc. - https://sterilray.com/skin-safety/
