When you have the ability to grow your own cannabis you know that there are many different issues you need to consider, from keeping the plant healthy to dealing with the effects of sclerotinia. Sclerotinia is a type of fungal infection that is known to attack hemp, and if you have plants in your home that are suffering from it, you’ll want to learn how to prevent it.

Botrytis Cinerea

Botrytis cinerea, also known as gray mold, is an airborne fungus that affects more than 200 crop species. It produces phytotoxic metabolites that can damage host cells. Affected plants show localized lesions on their leaves. These lesions turn dark and eventually become discolored.

The fungus enters through spores that are released through cup-like structures called apothecia. This is how the sclerotia, hard black structures, form within the plant tissues. As the infection progresses, the sclerotia produce conidia.

Infections develop as small circular spots. Eventually, they enlarge to form necrotic areas. The growth of the sclerotia is dependent on environmental conditions. If the plant is under high humidity, the sclerotia are easily able to germinate. During this period, the sclerotia can also produce multinucleate conidia.

Previously, the interaction between the host and the necrotrophic pathogens was considered passive. However, newer research has shown that the host plays a more active role.

Downy Mildew

Downy mildew is a fungus that can cause damage to cannabis plants. The disease causes pale yellow or gray patches on the leaves, stems, and flowers. It can also cause leaves to fall.

In order to control downy mildew, producers need to be aware of the products available. These are typically products that have been approved by Health Canada. Many of these products include bio fungicides and fungicides with bacillus-based strains.

Some of the registered products for use on cannabis are hydrogen peroxide, Trichoderma asperellum, Gliocladium catenulatum, and Bacillus subtilis strain QST 713. All of these treatments are fungicides that can reduce the development of powdery mildew.

ZeroTol, CleanLight, and MilStop are a few other products that can reduce the development of the disease. However, they do not have the same effectiveness as other treatments.

The best way to prevent downy mildew is to follow proper sanitation practices. This is necessary when growing in a humid environment. Sanitation includes maintaining a well-ventilated area and using dehumidifiers. Also, removing plant debris is important to avoid spreading the fungus.

Hemp Canker

Sclerotinia is one of the most common pathogens of cannabis plants, commonly referred to as white mold. It causes root rot, crown rot, and stem rot. Although it is not known whether biocontrol is effective in controlling Sclerotinia, it is considered a critical disease to control.

Sclerotinia is a fungus that germinates in near-saturated soils. The spores are released through cup-like structures called apothecia, and they infect plant tissue. Once they infect the leaves, the spores spread by airborne transmission and are a primary inoculum for subsequent crop infection.

Infected cannabis plants show symptoms of necrotic localized lesions and blister-like lesions that collapse into canker-like lesions. They can also develop a white powder-like substance covering them. These cankers may be dark or pale, and the affected plant will wither.

Some of the most damaging pathogens for cannabis are Fusarium and Pythium, which cause crown and root necrosis. Combined, these pathogens can cause up to 30% of the total loss. Various measures are available to reduce the impact of these pathogens on the cannabis plant.

Pythium

If you are growing cannabis, you should know that it is susceptible to a number of pathogens. These include fungi, bacteria, and microbes. Identifying and controlling these diseases is vital to your production.

Pythium and Fusarium are two of the most serious pathogens. These fungi can infect the roots, crowns, and flowers of cannabis, leading to damping off and wilt. Combined, they can lead to up to 30% loss of crops.

The occurrence of these diseases in a cannabis crop depends on environmental conditions and the proximity of neighboring fields. Various sanitation measures can help reduce the survival of pathogen propagules.

Symptoms of a cannabis plant that has been infected with Pythium or Fusarium can range from damping off to yellowing. In addition, some plants may show signs of stunting. Plants infected with these fungi can be treated with fungicides. However, the disease remains difficult to control.

Another pathogen that can infect cannabis is Sclerotinia. This fungus forms a hard black mass on the leaf or stalk. It is also known as white mold.