Healthy Plants for Better Yields

Why Test for Pathogens?

Investment in regular pathogen screening has big economic returns.

Pathogens can severely reduce growth and output of cannabis. Many pathogens present initially asymptomatically allowing for rapid, undetected spread. Once the symptoms are apparent, often serious economic damage has already occurred.

A critical step in avoiding loss is testing. Preventing the spread of pathogens by starting with clean mother plants help prevent issues before they start. Certified “clean stock” and regular testing is a core component of pathogen mitigation in general agriculture. Studies show the return on an investment in clean stock programs ranges from 10-fold to 100-fold (read more).


Why Test for Pathogens?

Pathogens can severely reduce growth and output of cannabis. Many pathogens present initially asymptomatically allowing for rapid, undetected spread. Once the symptoms are apparent, often serious economic damage has already occurred.

A critical step in avoiding loss is testing. Preventing the spread of pathogens by starting with clean mother plants help prevent issues before they start. Certified “clean stock” and regular testing is a core component of pathogen mitigation in general agriculture. Studies show the return on an investment in clean stock programs ranges from 10-fold to 100-fold (read more).


Investment in regular pathogen screening has big economic returns.

What Pathogens Should I Test?

The purpose of pathogen screening is to identify and remove infected plants before the disease spreads and money is lost. For a pathogen testing program to be useful from a cost/benefit perspective, cultivators should focus testing efforts on high impact pathogens that are both destructive and common.

While the list of possible pathogens that could infect cannabis is long, not all have been identified as natural infections that cause serious symptoms.

Spending money “testing for everything” may not end up generating the economic benefits that justify a testing program in the first place.

Scientist holding up a clear vial with clear liquid with a 3D rendered DNA helix edited in front of him

TUMI Genomics Makes Testing Easy

At TUMI Genomics we have created flexible testing protocols and carefully designed panels that help cultivators identify impactful pathogens. Whether taking in new varieties, or screening mother stock prior to cutting clones, our assays and predesigned panels take the guess work out of deciding which pathogens to test. Take a look at our “Use Case Panels” and “Specific Diagnostic Tests” below for more info.

Specific Diagnostic Tests

These are diagnostic tests that can be run when a cultivator is aware of a specific issue in their facility and would like to monitor that pathogen or if a specific class of pathogen is suspected depending on symptoms.

Hop Latent Viroid - $25/test

Petri dish with mold growing and a 3D rendered DNA helix in the background

  • Hop latent viroid (HLVd) is an infectious agent in plants that is spread most frequently via mechanical transmission on unsterilized tools and equipment.

    HLVd has been detected in most geographical locations around the world and identified in cannabis plants throughout the United States, Europe and Canada.

    Symptoms in cannabis include stunted growth, brittle stems, and reduced flower mass. The infection can be asymptomatic (“latent”), making detection by eye difficult. Regular testing is critical to limit economic loss from this pathogen.escription

  • TUMI Genomics’ hop latent viroid (HLVd) test is for the detection of HLVd infection from cannabis/ hemp plant tissue.

    Our HLVd assay uses a special type of PCR called, TaqMan qRT-PCR, with increased sensitivity and accuracy. The test detects two independent parts of the HLVd genome and includes an internal control to monitor sample integrity. Because this assay detects two independent targets in the HLVd genome, the chance of false positive or false negative results is dramatically reduced.

  • Sensitivity (limit of detection): 7.5 HLVd copies per reaction.

    Accuracy: >95%

    Inclusivity: Test detects all 128 known unique sequences of HLVd RNA.

    Specificity: Test does not amplify other contaminating pathogens that could be present in the sample.

    **See complete validation document below

Pan Fusarium- $25/test

Petri dish with Fusarium growing

  • Fusarium is a root fungal pathogen. Fusarium infection can result, root rot, damping-off and plant death. Fusarium is one of the most devastating pathogens infecting cannabis.

    Introduction of diseased plant material such as cuttings, stock plants or seeds can result in inoculation and spread of the fungus.

    Once established, Fusarium can spread via unfiltered, recirculated water, in air, on tools/equipment and on shoes and clothing on employees and visitors.

    There is no effective and safe cure for Fusarium in cannabis. Identification of infected plants and effective management through a preventative testing program can help limit introduction and spread of Fusarium.

  • TUMI Genomics’ Fusarium test is for the detection of Fusarium infection from cannabis/ hemp plant tissue. The test identifies the most common and damaging Fusarium species in Cannabis: Fusarium oxysporum, Fusarium solani, Fusarium proliferatum and Fusarium brachygibbosum

    Our Fusarium test uses a special type of PCR called, TaqMan qRT-PCR, with increased sensitivity and accuracy. The test detects the Fusarium genome as well as a part of the plant genome to ensure sample integrity and effective reaction components.

  • Sensitivity (limit of detection): 8 Fusarium genome copies per reaction.

    Inclusivity: Test detects all Fusarium sequence variants know to infect cannabis from the following species: Fusarium oxysporum , Fusarium solani, Fusarium proliferatum , Fusarium brachygibbosum .

    Specificity: Test does not amplify other contaminating pathogens (viral or fungal) that could be present in the sample.

    **See complete validation document below

Speciation available upon request

Pan Pythium- $25/test

Petri dish with Pythium growing

  • Pythium belongs to a distinct class of fungus-like, parasitic microbes called oomycetes. Pythium is a common cause of root rot and damping off and can have major economic impacts due to reduced yield of infected plants. The subspecies most commonly detected in diseased cannabis plants are P. aphanidermatum, P. ultimum, P. dissotocum and P. myriotylum.

    Pythium is generally considered a water mold. Standing water in fields, ditches, water tanks, and hydroponic systems are places that Pythium can exist, multiply to great numbers and spread. Pythium is an opportunistic pathogen that can cause severe damage whenever plants are stressed or at a vulnerable stage. Co-infection with Pythium and Fusarium is common.

  • Item TUMI Genomics’ Pythium test is for the detection of Pythium infection from cannabis/ hemp plant tissue. The test identifies the most common and damaging Pythium species in Cannabis: P. aphanidermatum, P. ultimum, P. dissotocum and P. myriotylum. Other species detected include:

    Pythium arrhenomanes

    Pythium guiyangense

    Pythium oligandrum

    Pythium brassicae

    Pythium insidiosum

    Pythium periplocum

    ** Phytophthora species and Pseudoperonospora cannabina (downy mildew) are also detected by this assay.

    Our Pythium test uses a special type of PCR called, TaqMan qRT-PCR, with increased sensitivity and accuracy. The test detects the Pythium genome as well as a part of the plant genome to ensure sample integrity and effective reaction.

  • Sensitivity (limit of detection): 8 Pythium genome copies per reaction.

    Inclusivity: Test detects all Pythium sequence variants know to infect cannabis from the following species: P.ythium aphanidermatum, Pythium ultimum, Pythium dissotocum and Pyhtium myriotylum.

    Other species detected also include:

    Pythium arrhenomanes

    Pythium guiyangense

    Pythium oligandrum

    Pythium brassicae

    Pythium insidiosum

    Pythium periplocum

    ** Phytophthora species and Pseudoperonospora cannabina (downy mildew) are also detected by this assay.

    Specificity: Test does not amplify other contaminating pathogens (viral or fungal) that could be present in the sample.

    **See complete validation document below

Speciation available upon request

Use Case Panels

These panels test for pathogens that are critical concerns depending on the purpose. Only pathogens that are likely to cause serious economic damage from each activity are included, so growers can maximize economic returns from testing.

Mother Stock Screening - $40/test

person holding up a cannabis plant's leaves to show the camera

  • Starting with clean, tested stock is a critical step in growing a successful crop. Among cannabis pathogens, hop latent viroid and Fusarium are by far the most economically damaging infections. Beginning a run with mother stock infected with either of these two pathogens can lead to catastrophic failure of a harvest and potentially facility-wide spread.

    The TUMl Genomics Mother Stock Screening panel combines detection of these two deleterious pathogens into a single, more affordable test. This panel is appropriate for testing of mother plants prior to cutting clones to prevent major loss due to disease.

  • Sensitivity (limit of detection): 30 pathogen genome copies per reaction.

    Inclusivity: Test detects all Fusarium sequence variants know to infect cannabis from the following species: Fusarium oxysporum , Fusarium solani, Fusarium proliferatum , Fusarium brachygibbosum. Test also identifies all 155 known hop latent viroid variants available in genbank.

    Specificity: Test does not amplify other contaminating pathogens (viral or fungal) that could be present in the sample.

    **See complete validation document below

Coming Soon for Online Orders!

New Material - Indoor

birds eye view of several cannabis plants in black pots

  • Introduction of new plant material is one of the most common ways pathogens gain access to a facility. It is critical to screen incoming plants for economically damaging pathogens to prevent disease spread.

    The TUMI Genomics New Material- Indoors assay detects common damaging pathogens in an indoor growing environment. This panel is appropriate for testing new cuts that are being acquired from an indoor nursery or facility. The pathogens tested in this assay include:

    Hop Latent Viroid

    Fusarium Species

    Pythium Species

    Gray mold (Botrytis cinerea)

    Powdery Mildew (Golovinomyces cichoracearum)

Coming Soon for Online Orders!

New Material - Outdoor/ Greenhouse

Person planting a cannabis plant into dirt

  • Introduction of new plant material is one of the most common ways pathogens gain access to a facility. It is critical to screen incoming plants for economically damaging pathogens to prevent disease spread.

    The TUMI Genomics New Material- Outdoors/ Greenhouse assay detects common damaging pathogens in an outdoor growing environment. This panel is appropriate for testing new cuts that are being acquired from an outdoor nursery or greenhouse facility. The pathogens tested in this assay include:

    Hop Latent Viroid

    Beet Curly Top Virus

    Lettuce Chlorosis Virus

    Tobacco Streak Virus

    Fusarium Species

    Pythium Species

    Gray mold (Botrytis cinerea)

    Powdery Mildew (Golovinomyces cichoracearum)

Don’t see what you are looking for? Need help designing a testing program to fit your needs? TUMI Genomics can test for a variety of different cannabis pathogens and have the know-how to design a program that fits your facility’s specific needs.