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Viruses and Viroids: Is There A Difference?

When reading about cannabis-related diseases like Alfalfa Mosaic Virus or HpLvd, you may come across terms like virus or viroid. While the two sound similar, they are actually quite different. So what exactly is the difference? Let’s take a look to find out.

What is a Virus?

According to the National Human Genome Research Institute, “A virus is an infectious microbe consisting of a segment of nucleic acid (either DNA or RNA) surrounded by a protein coat.”

Viruses thrive by multiplying in living beings like animals, plants, and humans. The shape of viruses can come in two different forms. The first being a rod shape also known as filaments. According to Encyclopaedia Britannica, “so called because of the linear array of the nucleic acid and the protein subunits.” The second is a 20-sided polygon shaped commonly called spheres.

When we think of viruses, we commonly think of the flu. However, viruses can impact cannabis plants as well. The viruses that impact a plant are drastically different from the ones that impact humans, but have adverse reactions all the same.

Examples of Viruses

There is an extensive list of known viruses that can impact cannabis plants. Some of the viruses that growers should keep an eye out for are

Alfalfa Mosaic Virus
Cucumber Mosaic Virus
Tobacco Streak Virus
Tomato Ringspot Virus
Beet Curly Top Virus

What is a Viroid?

While virus is a term everyone has heard of, viroid is a lesser-known term, but just as important. Unlike a virus, a viroid is much smaller in size. According to the Encyclopaedia Britannica, “ The particle consists only of an extremely small circular RNA (ribonucleic acid) molecule, lacking the protein coat of a virus.”

Viroids mainly impact plants as opposed to hosts like humans or animals. Current research suggests viroids may have existed before the emergence of DNA and proteins. According to reports published through the National Center for Biotechnology Information, “There is evidence from sequence analyses that viroid-like RNAs have evolved into viruses and that during evolution viruses or their ancestors predate the appearance of the last universal cellular ancestor. These early virus-like entities have likely evolved protein and DNA synthesis in the absence of cells.”

Examples of Viroids

Viroids can impact a number of crop plants, including cannabis and hemp plants. Some of these viroids include (but are not limited to);

Hop Stunt Viroid
Hop Latent Viroid

How to Test for Viruses and Viroids

Having the ability to test for viruses and viroids in the palm of your hand is possible with kits from Verne Bio. Using the I-Test and W-Test kits, growers can test their crops throughout the plant’s life cycle. This state-of-the-art technology is designed to give control back to those whose lives depend on the outcome of a harvest.

To get started, please reach out to Verne Bio using the Contact Us page on our website. One of our professional staff members will help answer your questions and get you on the path to harnessing the power of personal testing!

Works Cited

Encyclopaedia Britannica. “Viroid | infectious particle | Britannica.” Encyclopedia Britannica, https://www.britannica.com/science/viroid. Accessed 8 February 2023.

Krug, Robert M., et al. “Virus | Definition, Structure, & Facts | Britannica.” Encyclopedia Britannica, 5 January 2023, https://www.britannica.com/science/virus. Accessed 7 February 2023.

Moelling, Karin, and Felix Broecker. “Viroids and the Origin of Life – PMC.” NCBI, 28 March 2021, https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC8036462/. Accessed 8 February 2023.

National Human Genome Research Institute. “Virus.” National Human Genome Research Institute, 3 February 2023, https://www.genome.gov/genetics-glossary/Virus. Accessed 6 February 2023.

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