Hop latent viroid

Hop latent viroid (abbreviated HpLVd, or HLVd) is a viroid, which is known to cause the Dudding Disease in hemp and cannabis.[1][2] It is a non-capsulated strand of RNA and an obligate parasite that requires the presence of a compatible host for its survivability. It can have minor effects on hop quality,[3] but has shown to cause severe stunting in hemp and cannabis.[4] Due to its ability to remain undetected, it has become an issue of significant risk for some hemp and cannabis cultivars. Studies regarding this viroid and its ability to infiltrate its plant host are well underway; however, addressing measures to reduce its introduction into growing environments is still challenging.

Hop latent viroid
Virus classification Edit this classification
(unranked): Virus
Family: Pospiviroidae
Genus: Cocadviroid
Species:
Hop latent viroid

Transmission

Hop latent viroid most notably spread from performing mechanical practices with contaminated tools and equipment such as boots, shears, shovels, or tractors. Viroids cannot physically enter a host independently, requiring some vector; in this case, it is with unsterilized tools or equipment when managing cultivars. Propagules can be unintentionally infected when obtaining them from a mother plant, or they can be from an infected plant that is asymptomatic. Hop latent viroid can enter cultivars undetected since some plants don't demonstrate any signs of infection.

Effects on plant

Plants affected by hop latent viroid may display stunted growth, brittle stems, and reduced foliage; symptoms result from RNA of the viroid disrupting the plant metabolites. These symptoms are reflected in the plant's foliage as trichome development becomes uneven and leaves develop chlorosis. Unfortunately, there are no signs to pre-diagnose the viroid-infected plant, so the plant's physiology and yield quality are indicators.

Management

Critical practices in managing hop latent viroid involve narrowing down the viroid-infected plant before introducing it to a growing environment. Cannabis and hemp are grown from propagules obtained from a mother plant; verifying if the mother plant is diseased is essential to avoid propagating that plant. This process could be accomplished by isolating it in a different environment or testing it with available testing kits for the viroid. Monitoring the plant's development (height and foliage) and identifying any abnormalities could indicate the presence of the viroid (for newly introduced plants). However, as previously mentioned, the viroid can go undetected, and growing these plants require mechanical practices. Tools for any conducted procedure must be carefully sanitized with a solution of 10% bleach to kill off hop-latent viroid (if potentially present) before and after usage.

Research with HLVd-infected hop plants has shown that HLVd can be partially degraded through biogas fermentation and high-temperature pretreatment, highlighting potential methods for viroid decontamination in hop production. [5]

References
  1. Bektaş, A.; Hardwick, K. M.; Waterman, K.; Kristof, J. (October 2019). "Occurrence of Hop Latent Viroid in Cannabis sativa with Symptoms of Cannabis Stunting Disease in California". Plant Disease. 103 (10): 2699. doi:10.1094/PDIS-03-19-0459-PDN. ISSN 0191-2917.
  2. Warren, J. G.; Mercado, J.; Grace, D. (October 2019). "Occurrence of Hop Latent Viroid Causing Disease in Cannabis sativa in California". Plant Disease. 103 (10): 2699–2699. doi:10.1094/PDIS-03-19-0530-PDN. ISSN 0191-2917.
  3. Patzak, Josef; Henychová, Alena; Krofta, Karel; Svoboda, Petr; Malířová, Ivana (2021-10-26). "The Influence of Hop Latent Viroid (HLVd) Infection on Gene Expression and Secondary Metabolite Contents in Hop (Humulus lupulus L.) Glandular Trichomes". Plants. 10 (11): 2297. doi:10.3390/plants10112297. ISSN 2223-7747. PMC 8617911. PMID 34834660.
  4. Adkar-Purushothama, Charith Raj; Sano, Teruo; Perreault, Jean-Pierre (2023-03-04). "Hop Latent Viroid: A Hidden Threat to the Cannabis Industry". Viruses. 15 (3): 681. doi:10.3390/v15030681. ISSN 1999-4915.
  5. Hagemann, Michael Helmut; Born, Ute; Sprich, Elke; Seigner, Luitgardis; Oechsner, Hans; Hülsemann, Benedikt; Steinbrenner, Jörg; Winterhagen, Patrick; Lehmair, Erich (November 2021). "Degradation of hop latent viroid during anaerobic digestion of infected hop harvest residues". European Journal of Plant Pathology. 161 (3): 579–591. doi:10.1007/s10658-021-02344-2. ISSN 0929-1873.

External sources
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