A Novel, Precise and High-Throughput Technology for Viroid Detection in Cannabis (MFDetect^TM)

Area of Science:

• Plant Pathology
• Molecular Diagnostics
• Agricultural Science

Background:

• Hop latent viroid (HLVd) causes significant economic losses in cannabis cultivation worldwide.
• Early detection and control are essential to limit HLVd spread in grow facilities.

Purpose of the Study:

• To introduce MFDetect™, a novel tool for rapid, sensitive, and high-throughput detection of HLVd.
• To compare the efficacy of MFDetect™ with quantitative RT-PCR for HLVd detection across various cannabis tissues and developmental stages.

Main Methods:

• A time-course study comparing MFDetect™ and quantitative RT-PCR.
• Analysis of different plant tissues (leaves, petioles, roots) at various developmental stages.
• Evaluation of assay sensitivity, throughput, and scalability.

Main Results:

• MFDetect™ demonstrated comparable sensitivity and accuracy to quantitative RT-PCR for HLVd detection.
• Leaf tissue is suitable for HLVd detection, with viral load increasing with plant age.
• Petiole and root tissues were also found to be sensitive for HLVd detection using MFDetect™.
• The assay enables screening of thousands of plants weekly.

Conclusions:

• MFDetect™ is a reliable, rapid, and scalable diagnostic tool for early HLVd detection in cannabis.
• The assay provides growers with a cost-effective solution for comprehensive plant screening.
• This technology aids in managing HLVd and mitigating economic losses in the cannabis industry.