Hop Latent Viroid spreads to Vermont

Hop Latent Viroid has already been detected in cannabis in California, Colorado, Nevada, Oregon and Washington.

Physical symptoms of HLVd can be hard to detect but may include stunted plant growth and under-developed trichomes. Often, the disease is not diagnosed until harvest and potency testing – HLVd-positive cannabis may contain roughly half the THC of healthy plants.

Limited published research exists, but HLVd does not appear to be airborne, and does not have any known impacts to human health. The disease spreads readily through plant material. Plants may be infected through cultivation tools, insects, physical contact with an infected plant, and hydroponic systems. Clones taken from infected mother plants will also likely be infected with HLVd.

Vermont’s licensed cannabis testing labs offer HLVd testing, and home test kits are available to purchase through various retailers online. In the meantime, prevention is the best means of protection against Hop Latent Viroid.

Cultivators are instructed to take the following steps:

• Adopt strict bio-security measuresA highly contagious cannabis pathogen, Hop Latent Viroid (also referred to as HLV, HpLV, HpLVd, HLVd, or “dudding” disease) has been detected at a licensed tier 1 cultivation site in Vermont.Physical symptoms of HLVd can be hard to detect but may include stunted plant growth and under-developed trichomes. Often, the disease is not diagnosed until harvest and potency testing – HLVd-positive cannabis may contain roughly half the THC of healthy plants.Limited published research exists, but HLVd does not appear to be airborne, and does not have any known impacts to human health. The disease spreads readily through plant material. Plants may be infected through cultivation tools, insects, physical contact with an infected plant, and hydroponic systems. Clones taken from infected mother plants will also likely be infected with HLVd.Vermont’s licensed cannabis testing labs offer HLVd testing, and home test kits are available to purchase through various retailers online. In the meantime, prevention is the best means of protection against Hop Latent Viroid.

Continue reading.

Photo created by wirestock - www.freepik.com

Source: