Hop Latent Viroid (HLVd) is a single-stranded, circular strand of RNA with no protein coat. This Hop Latent Viroid can cause disease in many plants, including cannabis plants. The phenotype of an infected cannabis plant may be referenced as “duding,” “stunting,” or “dudding disease.” Plants infected with HLVd may or may not show symptoms (symptomatic vs asymptomatic) and the disease can be dormant in a plant for extended periods of time prior to showing symptoms.

HLVd noticeable symptoms in cannabis plants include:

• Growth stunting
• Abnormal branching and brittle stems
• Reduced trichomes, potency and oil production
• Reduced flower mass
• Malformation and/or Chlorosis of the leaves

HLVd will greatly reduce the quality and quantity of the flower the infected plant produces. During the vegetative stage, plants will grow shorter with smaller leaves and tighter node spacing. Flowering plants will have smaller looser buds with much fewer trichomes. Over time, yields can be reduced up to 70% with a loss of potency and terpene production up to 35%.

HLVd infects plants mostly through cross contamination. It is typically spread via:

• Infected pruning tools, which is why cultivators should always sterilize their equipment before starting work on a new plant
• Cloning when cuttings are taken from an infected mother
• Contaminated seeds
• Contaminated clothing and physical touching.

MH Verify offers both a “Starter” Test Kit and the “Refill” Test Kit. Both kits include instructions and all the equipment and tools necessary to perform tests. To view a video of the Starter Kit, visit [insert link].

Approximately 2 hours from unpacking kit to results.

Our HLVd testing process is as simple as a Home Pregnancy Test and should not require any on-site assistance. But all customers should reach out to their MH Verify representative whenever they think guidance in warranted.

We are currently developing an in-house testing procedure. (No pricing available yet)

Because HLVd is a relatively new cannabis issue, there isn’t a current universally accepted standard treatment, but growers are experimenting with various treatments. The most common experimental treatments that we are currently aware of include:

• Plant Cleaning: Preparing a broad-spectrum bactericide/fungicide (e.g. Zerotol) and dunking a freshly cut clone and after rooting, re-dunk the clone in a broad-spectrum bactericide/fungicide.
• Plant Spraying with Regalia and/or Axiom

No. This test is purely so that you can address internal issues at your cultivation site and maximize your profitability.

The kit’s instructions read as follows:

• Prepare to Sample. Make a diagram and list of plants to sample and their IDs. Select a plant to sample. Label vial and reaction tube with permanent marker. Flame scissors and end of forceps for 2-3 seconds. Allow to cool for 10 seconds.
• Sample Leaf. Holding the forceps, cut leaf section approximately 1/4 inch to 1/2 inch long. Place the leaf sample into the appropriate sample vial and secure the cap.
• Repeat Sampling Process. Repeat the sampling process until all samples have been collected. If you touched the leaves with your gloves, change your gloves before sampling the next plant. 4) Extract. Shake samples vigorously, by hand for ~1 minute. Extraction buffer will likely turn a light green color during this process.
• Begin the Reaction. Warm heater to 65 °C. Using a small dropper, add a volume of sample extract from the collection vial into the bottom of a reaction tube avoiding any leaf bits. Cap the tube.
• Dissolve and Mix. Let reaction sit for 30 seconds to allow reagents to dissolve then mix by inverting 2-3 times.
• Collect Reaction at Bottom of Tube. Collect the reaction mixture into the bottom of the tube by snapping your wrist downward.
• Place tube in pre-warmed 65°C heat block and heat for 30 minutes. Remove reaction from heat block, place in tube rack, and proceed to results visualization.
• Dilute and Mix. Using the large dropper, add one volume of dilution buffer to each reaction tube and replace the cap. Mix by lightly flicking the bottom of the tube.
• Collect at bottom of tube. Collect the reaction mixture into the bottom of the tube by snapping your wrist downward.
• Insert LFA test strip. Open cap and place in rack. Insert test strip grasping the blue part of the strip and inserting it into the bottom of the 1.5 mL tube. Top third will be sticking out of the tube.
• Compare to chart. After 10 minutes, observe the results and compare to the chart.