In the early stages of infection, it’s challenging to detect symptoms because the viroid levels are low, hence the “Latent” part of the viroid’s name. However, as the amount of viroid increases, more and more of each plant gets infected, and a larger proportion of the plant population becomes infected, leading to a greater impact on the grower’s crop.

There are many ways for cultivators to mitigate the risks associated with HLVd. From our lab to you, here is what we suggest:

1. Test your mother plants before propagation: Ensure you’re not producing clones from an infected mother plant. Consider sending tissue samples for viroid detection or set up your own viroid detection assays in-house.
2. Test plants regularly throughout their lifecycle: Screen your plants at various points in their life to identify problems early. Infected plants should be removed, quarantined, monitored, or destroyed to prevent further spread.
3. Properly sterilize all tools and equipment: Use a dilute bleach solution (3 parts bleach to 7 parts water) to sterilize tools and surfaces that come into contact with plant tissue. Sterilize equipment every time it’s used to prevent viroid transmission.
4. Wear a fresh set of gloves: Use disposable nitrile or latex gloves and change them between handling different plants. Disinfect gloves with the bleach solution for added protection.

Although the threat of HLVd continues to loom over the Cannabis industry, the properly educated cultivator has little to fear. With the right skills, mindset, and tools, the challenges this pathogen poses—like any other—can be effectively mitigated through prevention, verification, and swift action.