Pathogens and Molds Affecting Production and Quality of Cannabis Sativa L
ORIGINAL RESEARCH published: 17 October 2019 doi: 10.3389/fpls.2019.01120 Pathogens and Molds Affecting Production and Quality of Cannabis sativa L. Zamir K. Punja*, Danielle Collyer, Cameron Scott, Samantha Lung, Janesse Holmes and Darren Sutton Department of Biological Sciences, Simon Fraser University, Burnaby, BC, Canada Plant pathogens infecting marijuana (Cannabis sativa L.) plants reduce growth of the crop by affecting the roots, crown, and foliage. In addition, fungi (molds) that colonize the inflorescences (buds) during development or after harvest, and which colonize internal tissues as endophytes, can reduce product quality. The pathogens and molds that affect C. sativa grown hydroponically indoors (in environmentally controlled growth rooms and greenhouses) and field-grown plants were studied over multiple years of sampling. A PCR- based assay using primers for the internal transcribed spacer region (ITS) of ribosomal DNA confirmed identity of the cultures. Root-infecting pathogens includedFusarium oxysporum, Fusarium solani, Fusarium brachygibbosum, Pythium dissotocum, Pythium Edited by: myriotylum, and Pythium aphanidermatum, which caused root browning, discoloration of Donald Lawrence Smith, the crown and pith tissues, stunting and yellowing of plants, and in some instances, plant McGill University, Canada death. On the foliage, powdery mildew, caused by Golovinomyces cichoracearum, was the Reviewed by: David L. Joly, major pathogen observed. On inflorescences,Penicillium bud rot (caused by Penicillium Université de Moncton, olsonii and Penicillium copticola), Botrytis bud rot (Botrytis cinerea), and Fusarium bud Canada Benedetta Mattei, rot (F. solani, F. oxysporum) were present to varying extents. Endophytic fungi present University of L’Aquila, Italy in crown, stem, and petiole tissues included soil-colonizing and cellulolytic fungi, such *Correspondence: as species of Chaetomium, Trametes, Trichoderma, Penicillium, and Fusarium.
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