What is HLVD Testing | Verne Bioanalytics

A plant-specific RNA called Hop Latent Viroid (HLVd) needs a host in order to reproduce. The extremely mechanically transmissible infectious viroid can destroy a garden at any moment if it is not identified and treated properly and right away. After contracting HLVd, plants begin to exhibit a wide range of symptoms, such as brittleness, deformity, and chlorosis in the leaves during the vegetative phases. Smaller, looser buds with less bulk, trichomes, and overall cannabinoid and terpene production are characteristics of producing plants during blooming.

Controlling HLVD

Controlling the spread of HLVd requires HLVD Testing. Testing numerous times a year can help you ensure that your garden is clear of this hazardous viroid, whether you test moms before any cloning takes place, new clones from a friend or dispensary, or plants that are in bloom. We employ the PathoSEEK Cannabis Virus Multiplex detection kit from Medicinal Genomics, which employs reverse transcriptase and qPCR techniques to identify a wide range of viruses as well as the HOP Latent Viroid. When samples are received, we disassemble the plant material, which is then added to the analysis to disassemble the plant's molecular structure. The detection kit will next use qPCR techniques to locate, duplicate, and discover the Hop Latent Viroid.

In order to prevent spreading any viroid that may be dormant within your plants to the rest of your garden, sampling your garden for the Hop Latent Viroid should be meticulous and cleanliness should be at the highest level. The term "latent" refers to the Hop Latent Viroid's ability to wait for the ideal moment to begin its reproduction process in one section of a plant but not in another. Use gloves to pick leaves or trimmers to cut as you examine one plant. Take a leaf or make a cut from three to five different locations on the plant, alternating between the bottom and top and the interior and outside of the plant. As a result, the testing may be conducted across the whole facility and not just in one section.

How To Prevent HLVD?

After the samples have been gathered, put the leaves or cuttings into a bag that has been designated just for that plant. When you are prepared to go to the next plant, throw away the old gloves and switch to a fresh pair. You may also thoroughly clean your trimmers with a 10% bleach solution to ensure that the virus is not mechanically transmitted from one plant to the next. Use fresh gloves, clean trimmers, and a fresh bag to put the samples you've collected before moving on to the next plant.

HLVD Testing is not a state-mandated analysis, however, Verne Bioanalytics provides HLVD Testing as a service to producers to help them have a successful and healthy harvest. The viroid panel uses real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction to screen for the cryptic cannabis virus, lettuce chlorosis, and hop latent virus (qPCR).