Challenges to <i>Cannabis sativa</i> Production from Pathogens and Microbes—The Role of Molecular Diagnostics and Bioinformatics
The increased cultivation of <i>Cannabis sativa</i> L. in North America, represented by high Δ<sup>9</sup>-tetrahydrocannabinol-containing (high-THC) cannabis genotypes and low-THC-containing hemp genotypes, has been impacted by an increasing number of plant pathogens. These...
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MDPI AG
2023-12-01
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| Series: | International Journal of Molecular Sciences |
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| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/1422-0067/25/1/14 |
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| author | Zamir K. Punja Dieter Kahl Ron Reade Yu Xiang Jack Munz Punya Nachappa |
| author_facet | Zamir K. Punja Dieter Kahl Ron Reade Yu Xiang Jack Munz Punya Nachappa |
| author_sort | Zamir K. Punja |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | The increased cultivation of <i>Cannabis sativa</i> L. in North America, represented by high Δ<sup>9</sup>-tetrahydrocannabinol-containing (high-THC) cannabis genotypes and low-THC-containing hemp genotypes, has been impacted by an increasing number of plant pathogens. These include fungi which destroy roots, stems, and leaves, in some cases causing a build-up of populations and mycotoxins in the inflorescences that can negatively impact quality. Viroids and viruses have also increased in prevalence and severity and can reduce plant growth and product quality. Rapid diagnosis of the occurrence and spread of these pathogens is critical. Techniques in the area of molecular diagnostics have been applied to study these pathogens in both cannabis and hemp. These include polymerase chain reaction (PCR)-based technologies, including RT-PCR, multiplex RT-PCR, RT-qPCR, and ddPCR, as well as whole-genome sequencing (NGS) and bioinformatics. In this study, examples of how these technologies have enhanced the rapidity and sensitivity of pathogen diagnosis on cannabis and hemp will be illustrated. These molecular tools have also enabled studies on the diversity and origins of specific pathogens, specifically viruses and viroids, and these will be illustrated. Comparative studies on the genomics and metabolomics of healthy and diseased plants are urgently needed to provide insight into their impact on the quality and composition of cannabis and hemp-derived products. Management of these pathogens will require monitoring of their spread and survival using the appropriate technologies to allow accurate detection, followed by appropriate implementation of disease control measures. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-08T15:06:44Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-c9f61a4a6c87474199fc0ef25e10e573 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 1661-6596 1422-0067 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-08T15:06:44Z |
| publishDate | 2023-12-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | International Journal of Molecular Sciences |
| spelling | doaj.art-c9f61a4a6c87474199fc0ef25e10e5732024-01-10T14:57:51ZengMDPI AGInternational Journal of Molecular Sciences1661-65961422-00672023-12-012511410.3390/ijms25010014Challenges to <i>Cannabis sativa</i> Production from Pathogens and Microbes—The Role of Molecular Diagnostics and BioinformaticsZamir K. Punja0Dieter Kahl1Ron Reade2Yu Xiang3Jack Munz4Punya Nachappa5Department of Biological Sciences, Simon Fraser University, Burnaby, BC V5A 1S6, CanadaAgriculture and Agri-Food Canada, Summerland Research and Development Center, Summerland, BC V5A 1S6, CanadaAgriculture and Agri-Food Canada, Summerland Research and Development Center, Summerland, BC V5A 1S6, CanadaAgriculture and Agri-Food Canada, Summerland Research and Development Center, Summerland, BC V5A 1S6, Canada3 Rivers Biotech, Coquitlam, BC V5A 1S6, CanadaDepartment of Agricultural Biology, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, CO 80523-1177, USAThe increased cultivation of <i>Cannabis sativa</i> L. in North America, represented by high Δ<sup>9</sup>-tetrahydrocannabinol-containing (high-THC) cannabis genotypes and low-THC-containing hemp genotypes, has been impacted by an increasing number of plant pathogens. These include fungi which destroy roots, stems, and leaves, in some cases causing a build-up of populations and mycotoxins in the inflorescences that can negatively impact quality. Viroids and viruses have also increased in prevalence and severity and can reduce plant growth and product quality. Rapid diagnosis of the occurrence and spread of these pathogens is critical. Techniques in the area of molecular diagnostics have been applied to study these pathogens in both cannabis and hemp. These include polymerase chain reaction (PCR)-based technologies, including RT-PCR, multiplex RT-PCR, RT-qPCR, and ddPCR, as well as whole-genome sequencing (NGS) and bioinformatics. In this study, examples of how these technologies have enhanced the rapidity and sensitivity of pathogen diagnosis on cannabis and hemp will be illustrated. These molecular tools have also enabled studies on the diversity and origins of specific pathogens, specifically viruses and viroids, and these will be illustrated. Comparative studies on the genomics and metabolomics of healthy and diseased plants are urgently needed to provide insight into their impact on the quality and composition of cannabis and hemp-derived products. Management of these pathogens will require monitoring of their spread and survival using the appropriate technologies to allow accurate detection, followed by appropriate implementation of disease control measures.https://www.mdpi.com/1422-0067/25/1/14bioinformaticscannabishemphop latent viroidmolecular diagnosticsplant pathogens |
| spellingShingle | Zamir K. Punja Dieter Kahl Ron Reade Yu Xiang Jack Munz Punya Nachappa Challenges to <i>Cannabis sativa</i> Production from Pathogens and Microbes—The Role of Molecular Diagnostics and Bioinformatics International Journal of Molecular Sciences bioinformatics cannabis hemp hop latent viroid molecular diagnostics plant pathogens |
| title | Challenges to <i>Cannabis sativa</i> Production from Pathogens and Microbes—The Role of Molecular Diagnostics and Bioinformatics |
| title_full | Challenges to <i>Cannabis sativa</i> Production from Pathogens and Microbes—The Role of Molecular Diagnostics and Bioinformatics |
| title_fullStr | Challenges to <i>Cannabis sativa</i> Production from Pathogens and Microbes—The Role of Molecular Diagnostics and Bioinformatics |
| title_full_unstemmed | Challenges to <i>Cannabis sativa</i> Production from Pathogens and Microbes—The Role of Molecular Diagnostics and Bioinformatics |
| title_short | Challenges to <i>Cannabis sativa</i> Production from Pathogens and Microbes—The Role of Molecular Diagnostics and Bioinformatics |
| title_sort | challenges to i cannabis sativa i production from pathogens and microbes the role of molecular diagnostics and bioinformatics |
| topic | bioinformatics cannabis hemp hop latent viroid molecular diagnostics plant pathogens |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/1422-0067/25/1/14 |
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