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.

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.