Page 313 - PC2019 Program & Proceedings

PLANT CANADA 2019

P199. Pathogens and molds affecting quality of medical cannabis (Cannabis sativa L.)
inflorescences.
Punja, Z.; D. Sutton; C. Scott
Simon Fraser University

Cannabis (Cannabis sativa L.) is cultivated by licensed producers in Canada under greenhouse and indoor
environments. With the increasingly large-scale production of cannabis, a number of pathogens and
molds that reduce yield and quality have been identified within several facilities and are described here.
Isolations were performed and colonies identified using PCR of the ITS1-5.8S-ITS2 region. Botrytis bud
rot (Botrytis cinerea) affects inflorescences at the flowering stage and causes post-harvest
disease. Powdery mildew (Golovinomyces chicoracearum) infects the foliage and inflorescences. A
range of fungi isolated from freshly harvested inflorescences included Fusarium oxysporum, Alternaria
alternata, A. tenuissima, A. chlamydosporigena and Cladosporium westeerdijkieae. Post-harvest
inflorescences yielded a range of Penicillium species, including P. olsonii, P. copticola, P. citrinum, P.
corylophilum, P. griseofulvum, P. simplicissimum, P. spathulatum, and P. sclerotiorum. Rhizopus
stolonifer, Aspergillus niger and A. flavus were also recovered. Cannabis products which fail Health
Canada’s limits for number of colony forming units (cfu) of mold per gram likely contain a combination
of these fungi. Sources of spores include diseased and decomposing plant materials, internal and external
airborne contaminants, and growing substrates (soil, cocofibre). The presence of previously unreported
and potentially mycotoxigenic mold species on cannabis inflorescences points to the need for specific
identification in addition to obtaining total cfu counts, as well as comparisons of mold populations that
occur in different growing environments and regions of Canada.

Cameron Scott (cameron_scott_2@sfu.ca)

P200. Role of aquaporins in root water transport of canola (Brassica napus) plants following
waterlogging
*
Liu, M. ; J. Zwiazek
Department of Renewable Resources, University of Alberta

We investigated the effects of waterlogging on water transport properties in roots of canola (Brassica
napus) plants at the seedling, flowering, and podding stages of growth. We also examined the anatomy of
roots, root aquaporin expression and the relative contributions of cell-to-cell and apoplastic root water
transport pathways under waterlogged and control conditions. The results showed significant decreases in
plant dry weights, net photosynthesis, and root hydraulic conductivity as a result of waterlogging. The
root hydraulic conductivity peaked at the seedling stage in control plants, but markedly declined within
two days following waterlogging. Root suberization and lignification increased with increasing exposure
to waterlogging resulting in an increased contribution of aquaporins to the overall root water transport.
The relative aquaporin expression level indicate consistency with those results. The findings suggest that
maintaining the functionality of aquaporins in waterlogged canola plants is highly important in canola
during flooding stress.

Mengmeng Liu (mliu3@ualberta.ca)

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