Professional Marijuana Grower March-April 2018 Issue | Page 36

and keeping an organized, clean grow room will go
the farthest in preventing a pathogenic bacteria from
taking hold. Air filtration devices with UV lights or a
photo-catalyst will remove bacteria from the air and
reduce the chance of the plants getting an infection.
Plants that have contracted a bacterial infection should
be removed from the garden to reduce the chance of
the infection spreading to other plants.
Pathogenic Viruses
Most cannabis growers who have experienced plant
viruses in their gardens were probably completely
unaware it happened. This is because viruses rarely kill
cannabis plants. Viruses can only exist and replicate
within a living plant. However, viruses can seriously
reduce the crop’s yield. Viruses can infect every part of
the plant’s living tissue which means pollen and seeds
can carry viruses into the next generation of plants.
Clones taken from mother plants with a viral infection
will also have that virus.
Pathogenic Virus Prevention
Unfortunately, once a virus is acquired, it is nearly
impossible to eradicate. Prevention is the best way to
ensure a crop stays protected from viruses. Most plant
viruses are transmitted by a vector. Cannabis grow-
ers need to be concerned about the two vectors that
commonly transfer viruses: people and insects. Growers
who do not clean gardening tools between uses run
the risk of spreading a virus between plants. This is just
36 • Professional Marijuana Grower
one of the reasons why it is so important for cannabis
growers to always disinfect pruning shears and other
tools that cut live tissue. Although people can be vectors
for plant viruses, the most common culprits are insects.
Pest insects that feed on the live tissue of the plants can
be vectors for viruses and can quickly spread a virus
around the entire garden. Viruses are just another rea-
son to make sure pest insects don’t make their homes in
a marijuana garden.
Cannabis plants have natural enemies that marijuana
horticulturists need to be aware of. Pathogens, includ-
ing fungi, bacteria, and viruses, can reduce yields,
hinder growth, and, in extreme cases, cause death.
For all pathogens, prevention is the best defense. How-
ever, once a pathogen has made it into the garden, a
grower must make quick decisions regarding treatment
or plant removal. Experienced cannabis growers know
that a pathogen attack may mean cutting their losses
to negate further damage. After experiencing a patho-
gen attack, a cannabis grower should diligently and
thoroughly disinfect his or her growing space and any
equipment used for cultivation. Marijuana growers
armed with the knowledge of prevention and treat-
ment of pathogens will be more capable of correcting
the garden when a pathogen attempts to steer it off
course. PMG
Eric Hopper is a Professional Marijuana Grower
Senior Editor.
March/April 2018