Hop Latent Viroid Prevention and Mitigation Strategies with Punya Nachappa, PhD

Dr. Punya Nachappa is an Associate professor at Colorado State University in the Department of Agricultural Biology. Her research program focuses on understanding the interactions between plants and insect vectors to manage plant pests and diseases in hemp. At CannMed 25, Punya will present "Biology and Management of Hop Latent Viroid", which will describe the impact of HLVd on hemp yield and cannabinoids, explain how thrips and aphids transmit the viroid, and evaluate the efficacy of using chemical elicitors to control HLVd infections. During our conversation, we discussed: How Hop Latent Viroid has been reported in every hemp-growing state in the US and Canada How HLVd spreads through infected clones, mechanical contact, seeds, and insect vectors like aphids and thrips. Possible reasons why hemp varieties appear more resistant than cannabis varieties (i.e., genetic diversity and environmental factors) The tradeoffs associated with using chemical elicitors on infected plants: increased yield, but reduced cannabinoids. Strategies for preventing HLVD spread, including strict sanitation, insect monitoring, frequent testing, and breeding for genetic resistance. Thanks to This Episode's Sponsor: Advanced Nutrients. Founded in 1999, Advanced Nutrients was the first to develop a complete nutrient system that unlocks the true genetic potential of the cannabis plant. Since its inception, the brand has introduced more than 50 innovations to the cultivation community and continues to revolutionize the space through proprietary scientific discoveries.  Learn more at AdvancedNutrients.com Additional Resources - Nachappa Lab Website (https://www.nachappalab.com/) - Register for CannMed 25 (https://cvent.me/emBPno) - Meet the CannMed 25 Speakers (https://cannmedevents.com/speakers/) - Review the Podcast (https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/cannmed-coffee-talk/id1504218804) - CannMed Archive (https://cannmedevents.com/cannmed-video-archives/)