Combating Hop Latent Viroid (HLVd): Strategic Approaches to Protect Your Operations and Ensure Deliveries

Strategies to approach Hop Latent Viroid (HLVd) must be considered and a course of action selected before this threat ravages your operation and ability to deliver.

Understanding Hop Latent Viroid (HLVd) and its Impact on Operations

• Know what you’re dealing with — analytics and competent interpretation are required. Here, DNA testing is necessary, but take note, there’s some IP fences up, noted below. Technique and ensuring standards of handling are maintained is not for the faint of heart!

What kills hop latent virus?

1:10 solution of 5% hypochlorite bleach is cited as the only way to effectively destroy Hop Latent Viroid from spreading; alcohol will not work.

#GrowYourOwnPsychedelic

• Know your options. Know all the options available, including the ones you like and the ones you don’t. Map out the risks and the costs – of doing and failing to do.
  • 1:10 solution of 5% hypochlorite bleach is cited as the only way to effectively destroy Hop Latent Viroid from spreading; alcohol will not work.
  • Could RNAi (RNAi) be a viable treatment to stem the spread of this costly disease? Nothing reported out there, yet.
• Have a plan and a backup plan. These problems are not created overnight and neither are they solved overnight.
  Stakeholders must be aware that alternative and non-agricultural routes may be options you’ll want to investigate, given the risks at play, and the value that can be generated via other production technology options like precision-fermentation and ingredients extracted from other botanical sources.

If you want to use or market a DNA test for Hop latent viroid, you may first want to check out Colorado’s Frontrange Biosciences’s patent, US20210381039A1, which claims “Methods and compositions for pathogen detection in plants” specifically for HLVd.

Is there any way to recover genetics that’ve become duds?

How is tissue culture used to recover genetics that’ve been infected? Does hot and cold shock work, at all?

The Crucial Role of Tissue Culture and DNA-level Testing in Identifying HLVd and Getting HLVd-free Genetics

Tissue culture, also known as micropropagation, is a technique used to recover and regenerate healthy plant material from infected plants. This process involves sterilizing and isolating small, disease-free portions of the plant, such as meristem tips, and then growing them in a controlled environment with the appropriate nutrients and growth hormones.

In the case of infected plant genetics, the aim is to isolate and cultivate healthy plant tissue that is free from viral, bacterial, or fungal contaminants. The meristem tissue, which is the growth tip of the plant, is often used for this purpose because it has a high rate of cell division and is less likely to be infected with pathogens.

Hot and Cold Shock Treatments

Hot and cold shock treatments have been used as methods to recover infected plant material, but their effectiveness varies depending on the type of pathogen and the plant species. These treatments involve subjecting the infected plant tissue to high or low temperatures for short periods to inactivate or kill the pathogen, without causing significant harm to the plant cells. However, these methods are not universally effective and may not work for all pathogens or plant species.

In summary, tissue culture is a valuable technique for recovering healthy plant material from infected plants, while the effectiveness of hot and cold shock treatments depends on the specific pathogen and plant species involved. It is essential to combine these methods with other strategies, such as pathogen detection, sanitation, and prevention measures, to ensure successful recovery and propagation of healthy plant material.

What is RNAi?

RNAi, or interfering RNA, also RNAi, is a type of RNA molecule that plays a role in gene silencing and the regulation of gene expression.

RNAi’s are parts of naturally occurring biological process within cells, where RNAi molecules interfere with the expression of specific genes by binding to and promoting the degradation of target messenger RNA (mRNA) molecules. This prevents the production of the corresponding protein, effectively “turning off” the target gene.

RNAi is widely used in research as a tool for studying gene function and has potential therapeutic applications, such as in the treatment of viral infections, genetic diseases, and cancer.

• By harnessing the power of RNAi, researchers can selectively target and inhibit the expression of disease-causing genes, opening up new avenues for developing innovative treatments.

Fortunately for Latent Hop Viroid Fighters, RNAi has precedent of commercial agriculture applications

Yes, there are commercial-phase examples of RNA interference (RNAi) technology applied in agriculture.

RNAi has been employed to develop genetically modified crops with improved traits, such as enhanced resistance to pests, diseases, and environmental stresses. Some examples of these applications include:

1. Pest resistance: One of the most successful and widely known applications of RNAi in agriculture is the development of crops resistant to pests. For instance, the genetically modified maize variety “SmartStax” employs RNAi to target specific genes in the western corn rootworm, a major pest affecting corn crops in the United States. The RNAi technology disrupts the normal functioning of the rootworm, eventually leading to its death and reducing the need for chemical pesticides.
2. Virus resistance: RNAi has been used to engineer virus-resistant plants by targeting and silencing viral genes. For example, genetically modified papaya known as the “Rainbow papaya” has been developed to resist the papaya ringspot virus, which can severely impact papaya production.
3. Herbicide tolerance: RNAi technology has been employed to develop crops that can tolerate specific herbicides, allowing farmers to control weeds without damaging the crops. For example, genetically modified soybean and canola varieties have been developed with increased tolerance to specific herbicides, improving weed control and crop yield.
4. Improved nutritional/metabolite content: RNAi has been used to modify the nutritional content of crops, such as enhancing the levels of healthy fatty acids in soybean and canola oils.

These commercial applications of RNAi in agriculture have the potential to increase crop yields, reduce pesticide use, and provide better-quality food products.

However, it’s essential to carefully assess the potential environmental and health impacts of these genetically modified organisms (GMOs) before widespread adoption.

And know and observe all relevant state, local, and federal regulations. If you need an assist sorting it out, our strategists are standing by for confidential consultations.