There are a lot of ways viruses can make their way to cannabis crops. Genetics, plant-to-plant transmission, and even the wind can play a role in the right circumstances. However, one of the most common ways viruses are transmitted between plants is by hosts.
Hosts can cover a wide range of beings, from animals to humans, and even plants in some cases. Among some of the most common hosts are aphids. These insects may be common pests but can carry additional problems that may require testing to identify and treat.
Alfalfa Mosaic Virus (known as AMV) most commonly affects alfalfa crops, however is known to cross over into other crops planted near it. These additional crops can include tomatoes, peppers, and cannabis. According to Agriculture Victoria, “AMV is transmitted from infected plants by aphids in a non-persistent manner. This means that spread of the virus is generally over short distances”.
For more information about the Alfalfa Mosaic Virus and its genetic makeup, please view our article here for more in-depth information.
Aphids are a pest every grower will unfortunately have to deal with at some point in their career. These pests are known to cause damage to the plant on their own, but when carrying viruses like AMV, they can become even more dangerous. Aphids spread in various ways, usually by hosts such as animals and humans. But once they come in contact with a cannabis crop, they can wreak havoc.
According to the University of California Agriculture and Natural Resources department, “aphids transmit the virus only while probing the leaf tissues. Once an aphid acquires alfalfa mosaic virus, it retains the ability to transmit the virus for only a short period of time (minutes to hours) and spread is local and can be very rapid within fields.”
While aphids can cause a large amount of damage to any cannabis crop, including infecting the plants with viruses, there are ways of preventing them from becoming a problem. In fact, there are several ways of doing so, but they are a joint effort. More than simply simply using one method will be required.
First, new plants entering the grow should be quarantined. This is to help prevent any pests, viruses, viroids, or other pathogens from entering the grow. Depending on the source the plant came from and the health of the plant, quarantine should last anywhere from a week to a month.
Second, PPE gear should be utilized to prevent accidentally carrying aphids into the grow. Since humans can be a host to transport aphids from plant to plant, especially when there are multiple rooms in the equation, limiting the possibility of transmission. Scrubs, gloves, and hair nets (to name a few options) can all be used to achieve this goal.
Third, maintaining a good preventative plan combining plant-safe pesticide alternatives (such as peppermint oil-based options) is recommended to help keep aphids and other pests from gaining a foothold in the grow. However, since each state has its own regulations regarding what can and cannot be sprayed on cannabis plants, please check with the governing body for your state to see what options are available.
Finally, regular testing should be done to shore up any gaps in your defense. This can be done by testing in-house using the I-Test kit from Verne Bio. Regular testing can help detect pathogens early on, allowing growers to detect problems earlier on and grant them the precious time needed to treat any pathogens detected.
Ready to learn more about viruses like Alfalfa Mosaic or the pests that can bring viruses to your cannabis plants? Then Verne Bio’s Knowledge Center is the place for you. No matter if you are an experienced grower or just starting out in your cannabis journey, there is something for everyone.
Readers can expect to find topics in our Knowledge Center including (but not limited to);
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Works Cited
Trebicki, Piotr. “Alfalfa mosaic virus | Grain, pulses and cereal diseases | Plant diseases | Biosecurity.” Agriculture Victoria, 9 June 2022, https://agriculture.vic.gov.au/biosecurity/plant-diseases/grain-pulses-and-cereal-diseases/alfalfa-mosaic-virus. Accessed 18 December 2023.
University of California Agriculture and Natural Resources. “Alfalfa Mosaic / Peppers / Agriculture.” UC IPM, 2009, https://ipm.ucanr.edu/agriculture/peppers/alfalfa-mosaic/. Accessed 18 December 2023.
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