Jamaican Lion Cannabis Strain Shows Resistance to Hop Latent Viroid
Jamaican Lion cannabis strain shows resistance to Hop latent viroid, offering hope for combating the viroid's impact on global cannabis cultivation
Key Points
- 1Jamaican Lion strain resists Hop latent viroid, turns purple during infection
- 2Study presented at CannMed23 highlights unique strain response
- 3HLVd affects 90% of California cannabis, causing significant yield losses
- 4Anthocyanin production linked to viroid resistance in Jamaican Lion
- 5Medicinal Genomics explores breeding viroid-resistant cannabis strains
In a promising development for the cannabis industry, scientists at Medicinal Genomics have identified a cannabis strain, Jamaican Lion, that exhibits partial resistance to the Hop latent viroid (HLVd). This viroid, initially found in hop plants, has become a significant threat to cannabis cultivation worldwide. The Jamaican Lion strain not only resists the viroid but also undergoes a color transformation, turning purple as it combats the infection
The findings were presented by Kevin McKernan, the Chief Scientific Officer of Medicinal Genomics, at the CannMed23 conference in Florida. The study, titled 'Hop Latent Viroid Shares a 19 Nucleotide Sequence with Cannabis sativa COG7,' highlights the unique response of Jamaican Lion, which is rich in CBD, as it battles the viroid. Despite repeated attempts to infect the plant, the strain remained largely unaffected, showing no signs of infection in its leaves and flowers even after 57 trials
The resistance of Jamaican Lion to HLVd is attributed to an increase in anthocyanin production, a chemical known for its purple pigmentation in plants. McKernan noted that while the exact mechanism remains unclear, the purple coloration could be an immune response. "There are studies linking anthocyanin production to viroid infection in various plants," McKernan explained, suggesting further research into purple cannabis strains as a potential solution to viroid infections
HLVd poses a severe threat to cannabis crops, leading to reduced flower size and THC content. The viroid causes trichomes, which house most of the plant's THC, to appear deflated under microscopic examination. In California, it is estimated that 90% of cannabis plants are infected, with potential yield losses reaching $4 billion. Despite its impact on plants, HLVd does not pose a direct threat to human health
Looking ahead, Medicinal Genomics aims to assist breeders in developing viroid-resistant cannabis cultivars, potentially focusing on strains that exhibit purple hues. Zamir K. Punja, a speaker at the CannMed23 conference, emphasized the need to address HLVd as a major threat to cannabis operations, likening it to "the COVID of the cannabis world." The development of resistant strains could safeguard yields and maintain potency, providing a long-term solution for the industry