Early Pathogen Detection
With youPCR® pathogen detection assays, cannabis cultivators can identify plants infected with powdery mildew, botrytis, and russet mites before they show visual signs. Cultivators who use this preventive strategy can reduce their risk of suffering costly pathogen outbreaks.
Powdery Mildew
Powdery Mildew is arguable the most destructive Cannabis pest. It is an obligate biotroph that can vascularize into the plant tissue and remain invisible to a grower. It tends to emerge and sporulate 2 weeks into flowering thus destroying very mature crop with severe economic consequences. It is believed to travel in clones and its is not known if it travels in seeds. Other stressful events like cloning can trigger Powdery Mildew spore formation.
Botrytis
Botrytis cinerea is a systemic mold infection in Cannabis. This mold is often called “Bud Rot” or “grey mold”. It can remain cryptic or dormant for long periods of time before it sporulates. The infection starts within the bud, making it difficult to detect in the early stages of infection. Peer-reviewed papers have also demonstrated that Botrytis is a systemic infection that can be passed to future generations via seeds.
Russet Mites
The microscopic Hemp Russet mite infects cannabis and can result in significant crop loss and chronic infestations. Russet mites are 200um x 45um and are thus invisible to the eye until late infection when their numbers begin to discolor the plant.
Russet mites are resistant to most pest treatments and thus care must be taken to screen incoming material to a grow. Visual detection of mature mites is possible with 14X objective loupe but eggs and nymphs likely escape convenient optical detection. They are believed to be hosts for other plant viruses.
Fusarium
Fusarium is a soil-dwelling fungus that causes yellowing and wilting of cannabis leaves and stems. The fungus can sit dormant in soil for years before becoming active and infecting a viable host plant. There is no effective treatment against fusarium. Cannabis plants that are infected are a lost cause, as well as any seeds they produce.
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The youPCR® Plant Screening Platform tests plant DNA obtained from a small hole punch in the leaf. If the DNA sample contains the target pathogen, a chemical reaction will turn the pink solution yellow, indicating a positive result.
Available Pathogen Detection Products
| Item # | Name | Reactions | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 420115 | PathoSEEK® Powdery Mildew Detection Assay | 200 | Buy Now |
| 420216 | Powdery Mildew Positive Control | 50 | Buy Now |
| 420211 | youPCR® Solution B – Powdery Mildew | 50 | Buy Now |
| 420222 | Botrytis Positive Control | 50 | Buy Now |
| 420221 | youPCR® Solution B – Botrytis | 50 | Buy Now |
| 420224 | Russet Mites Positive Control | 50 | Buy Now |
| 420223 | youPCR® Solution B – Russet Mites | 50 | Buy Now |
Getting Started with youPCR is as easy as 1, 2, 3.
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Frequently Asked Questions
No. Although we have done some initial research into using youPCR to test seeds, we have not done enough to confidently say it works as well as testing leaf. We recommend sampling a seedling’s first set of true leaves when using youPCR.
youPCR assays provide a positive/negative result. When using youPCR to screen for CBDA or THCA synthase, a positive result means there is an active CBDA or THCA synthase allele. Unfortunately, that result can’t be used to predict what percentage the plant will ultimately produce. However, if you combine the CBDA and THCA tests you can determine the plant type.
- Type I Plant (THCA-dominant) = THCA(+) CBDA(-)
- Type II Plant (THCA:CBDA hybrid) = THCA(+) CBDA (+)
- Type III Plant (CBDA-dominant) = THCA(-) CBDA(+)
- Type IV Plant (CBGA-dominant) = THCA(-) CBDA(-)
No. Plants that test negative for THCA or CBDA may still produce low percentages (<2%) of either compound.
No. Cannabis plants typically hermie as a response to stress. Although there may be genetic markers that determine if a plant is more likely to hermie, we have not found them, and we do not target them with our gender test. The youPCR Gender Assay specifically looks for a Y chromosome.
The youPCR Starter Kits do not include PCR Thermal Cyclers. We recommend the following models:
- MiniAmp Thermal Cycler from ThermoFisher. Use Promo Code “D2215899” to receive a discount off list price.
- miniPCR. Use Promo Code “MGC” to receive a discount off list price.
The youPCR Starter Kits also do not include chemical reagents: Solution A, Solution B, Solution C, and Positive Control. Those must be purchased separately on the Medicinal Genomics web store.
In order to successfully test with youPCR, you should have experience with the following laboratory techniques/best practices:
- Liquid handling with a pipette
- Benchtop sterility techniques
- Proper disposal of tips, punches, strip tubes
All of the chemicals and reagents we sell in our webstore are manufactured in facilities that are certified to ISO 9001 and/or ISO 13485 standards.
