Phytoplasma, virus

Going to start a thread, on this particular topic."phytoplasma." Not knowing much as I am just learning myself. First attack on my ladies . it's becoming more prevalent that this is more towards outdoor grows. As this virus is past by insects, tree toppers and leaf hoppers . They're passing it on to hosts.
Personally I've gotten three buds this season affected. Originally thinking it was start of a bud rot Appearing purple to Black. Deciding on black, from some help in the community. This is a cell virus, infecting it I'm attacking it and causing a variety of symptoms. knowledge about such virus is there but hard to come by. As this is relatively new to the Cannabis plants. Studies have started 2018. I'm hoping to continue adding more. Hopefully not more cuttings. I have some links to information I will attach it later time. Please share

phytoplasma infection, and once infected, plants exhibit severe witches’ broom-like Diagnostic characteristics: Witches’ broom symptoms typically resemble crowded leaf growth on single branches or a dense cluster of abnormal growth. Leaves in a cluster are very small, yellowish and not fully developed. Early infected plants may be severely stunted or killed by the bacteria. While plants infected later may not die during the season, symptomatic plants are useless for harvest. In the middle or late season, some plants may show clusters of witches’ broom symptoms on certain branches, while the rest of plant looks normal, which suggests only a portion of the plant is infected.
Prevention/Treatment: Because phytoplasma diseases are generally not treatable, the best way to manage this disease is through prevention. Check for healthy plant stock with no signs of disease, and ensure seed is sourced from plants free of phytoplasma witches’ broom. If the disease does occur in a field, remove all symptomatic plants as early as symptoms show and monitor for potential insect vectors such as leafhoppers, planthoppers and psyllids. These insects can acquire phytoplasma from diseased plants and transmit it from plant to plant. The control of insect vectors can minimize the spread of the disease but will not cure nor reverse phytoplasma infection.
Diseases Caused by Viruses
Viruses are submicroscopic particles made up of protein and nucleic acid. They infect plant cells and use the plant’s nucleic acid replication systems to produce more viruses to interfere with plant growth. Common symptoms caused by viruses are leaf mosaic, twisting, distortion, chlorosis, yellowing, necrosis, stunting or death.

Cannabis mosaic and leafroll
Leaf mosaic and other virus-like symptoms have been observed on both marijuana and hemp crops. These symptoms suggest viral infections, but no specific virus has been detected. Some cannabis growers consider tobacco mosaic virus (TMV) to be the culprit, but lab tests in Nevada were negative in several cases.

Diagnostic characteristics: Leaf mosaic, twisting, distortion, chlorosis, yellowing, necrosis, stunting or death. Another virus-like symptom on Cannabis crop is leaf curling. Curled leaves appear yellowish or light green and feel coarse to the touch. It is unknown if this symptom is caused by a type of virus (such as potato leafroll) causing leafroll symptoms. Both mosaic and leafroll may occur on the same plant, suggesting dual infections. We have no formal report of leafroll virus in Cannabis.
Prevention/Treatment: Viral diseases on Cannabis sativa are difficult to treat, and limited treatment products are available. Most viruses are transmitted by insect vectors, so monitoring and controlling insects is key to mitigating virus infections in the field. For indoor Cannabis cultivation, it is recommended to frequently wash hands with soap to prevent the introduction of TMV and other virusessymptoms.

My buddy has literally lost 1000s of plants to this in the past 10 years, and his buddy also, who lives 30 miles away.

And it only happens to outdoor plants. You can take the same seed batch, or clones, and grow one inside, and the other outside, and the indoor plants never becomes infected. Ive given him some really really good seed strains, expensive and some all but impossible to replace, and they get ruined. 41000s oof dollars worth.
And I too am convinced itis spread by Leafhoppers mainly. We never had this problem for 40 years. Weve been growing weed in the mountains/hills of east kentucky for more than 50 years. I grew my first plant in 1972, but my buddy was the real outdoor grower. He would sometimes get 100lbs, which to me is a lot for one person, and they are doing it guerilla style. In the middle of the woods, and river banks.
But he passed on, last Oct 30, so I dont know what is going on this year. But I know he lost thousands and thousands of plants over the last 10 years, and Ive spoken about it on this forum, and a couple other forums for at least the last 3-4 years. I believe I was the one that actually narrowed it down to a phytoplasma. I was researching it for my buddy. The first Phytoplasma in Hemp was observed in Iran, in 1967, and was predicted to spread. Not saying this is the same phytoplasma they observed, but it is documented, that weed, can be infected by phytoplasma viroid. And it is different than a virus. And like you said, there is no cure, and it is very contagious. Dont touch another plant after messing with an infected plant.
Ive also seen people respond from Hawaii to south Africa about this disease. Theres photos of infected plants, here on the forum.
We have also noted a vastly greater amount of leafhoppers in the past 10 years too. IMHO, others may disagree. But Im convinced the warmer winters, arent killing off as many bugs of all kinds, they way it used to, and they are making it further, and further north in their migration patterns, and also may not go as far south, because its staying warmer further north.
Here in east ky we always used to have some snows, and some stretches of cold weather. Now we are setting record warm temperatures, and when we do get any kind of bad weather,it only lasts several days, and it may be back up to 50-60 degrees, when it should be 35.
Ive actually been noting the weather patterns in my area for the last 10 or so years. Usually we could always count on it being cold up until mid March. Now, its been a pattern, that starting around February 10th, it has the weather pattern of what we used to have in mid-late March. We still get the March winds, but the temps are greatly more in line with mid-late march. So the bugs/insects never get frozen out.
Our planting date has also gone backwards Our normal planting date for weed, in the spring, is May 15th for the last day of killing frost. Now the hreat of the last killing frost is mid April. Seems like spring comes a month earlier than it did back in the 70s, and before. Insects will eventually take over the world.

My $ .02. I have battled this for two years wondering what brought it on as it is very destructive. Only thing i have done different is to cut out the use of store bought bloom boosters and also stopped molasses and Epsom salt. No evidence of the black death at all has shown up since. I know now that i was way over dosing.
Kinda don't believe it either but you cannot argue with success.

We dont use bloom boosters, or epsom salts. Outside we use 19-19-19, and potassium sulfate. Dolomitic lime, and calcitic lime. 2/3 calcitic x 1/3 dolomite. Been using this combination for more than 40 years.

whatscooking said:

My $ .02. I have battled this for two years wondering what brought it on as it is very destructive. Only thing i have done different is to cut out the use of store bought bloom boosters and also stopped molasses and Epsom salt. No evidence of the black death at all has shown up since. I know now that i was way over dosing.
Kinda don't believe it either but you cannot argue with success.

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To back up your Epsom salt, I noticed now that I think back that's when it happened. I thought I was low on magnesium. It's always when you think you're low something bad happens. I'm starting to learn that steady is the way to go. Your plant will tell you what it really does need. Thank you for all the information here. I'm glad I started this form, as it seems to be something that is needed. Although others have been created. People don't like to look back and find them. Also I found it very hard to find information on it. At one point I thought I might have been wrong.

jimihendrix1 said:

My buddy has literally lost 1000s of plants to this in the past 10 years, and his buddy also, who lives 30 miles away.

And it only happens to outdoor plants. You can take the same seed batch, or clones, and grow one inside, and the other outside, and the indoor plants never becomes infected. Ive given him some really really good seed strains, expensive and some all but impossible to replace, and they get ruined. 41000s oof dollars worth.
And I too am convinced itis spread by Leafhoppers mainly. We never had this problem for 40 years. Weve been growing weed in the mountains/hills of east kentucky for more than 50 years. I grew my first plant in 1972, but my buddy was the real outdoor grower. He would sometimes get 100lbs, which to me is a lot for one person, and they are doing it guerilla style. In the middle of the woods, and river banks.
But he passed on, last Oct 30, so I dont know what is going on this year. But I know he lost thousands and thousands of plants over the last 10 years, and Ive spoken about it on this forum, and a couple other forums for at least the last 3-4 years. I believe I was the one that actually narrowed it down to a phytoplasma. I was researching it for my buddy. The first Phytoplasma in Hemp was observed in Iran, in 1967, and was predicted to spread. Not saying this is the same phytoplasma they observed, but it is documented, that weed, can be infected by phytoplasma viroid. And it is different than a virus. And like you said, there is no cure, and it is very contagious. Dont touch another plant after messing with an infected plant.
Ive also seen people respond from Hawaii to south Africa about this disease. Theres photos of infected plants, here on the forum.
We have also noted a vastly greater amount of leafhoppers in the past 10 years too. IMHO, others may disagree. But Im convinced the warmer winters, arent killing off as many bugs of all kinds, they way it used to, and they are making it further, and further north in their migration patterns, and also may not go as far south, because its staying warmer further north.
Here in east ky we always used to have some snows, and some stretches of cold weather. Now we are setting record warm temperatures, and when we do get any kind of bad weather,it only lasts several days, and it may be back up to 50-60 degrees, when it should be 35.
Ive actually been noting the weather patterns in my area for the last 10 or so years. Usually we could always count on it being cold up until mid March. Now, its been a pattern, that starting around February 10th, it has the weather pattern of what we used to have in mid-late March. We still get the March winds, but the temps are greatly more in line with mid-late march. So the bugs/insects never get frozen out.
Our planting date has also gone backwards Our normal planting date for weed, in the spring, is May 15th for the last day of killing frost. Now the hreat of the last killing frost is mid April. Seems like spring comes a month earlier than it did back in the 70s, and before. Insects will eventually



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thank you very much for what you have said and thank you for the example. This is exactly what I occurred. Mine not so greasy though, I can also confirm that I believe Epsom salt, magnesium had something to do with. You're also correct there's not much information if there is it's hard to find and search. You added there's a form on here I could not find such. My technique to dealing with this is different than others. Post results at the end. It's on coming to, phytoplasma is something real it is something current and the Cannabis outdoor industry for sure. Could be equally as bad as mold. As stated it is not, virus but not a virus so an infection I guess of some sort. I would have to say I can concur with your weather analysis. And agree on the ecosystem effect. Let me get a little climate change, devil advocate. I was told there's been an Ice Age I've also been told there's the great melt. We're not in either at the moment. This is happening multiple times since Earth has been created. We still have polar caps at both ends of earth. I take from that we're not done of the melt. so this is a normal maybe things are faster. I'm not sure how long the last ice age was and the took. we would not be where we are without the progresses that have made perhaps climate change and issue.. So changes are relevant, definitely should be documented. this will happen again in my opinion hopefully next generation of life will know how to combat it or just plain be prepared for the end of Earth and reset. None of this stuff is going to happen my lifetime I don't think. So it's conspiracy to me cuz I don't know nor will I know. It's a thought, with a little bit of agenda pushed information towards me. I think that's how most of us get her information, whoever we're listening to does have some sort of an agenda.
let's dive back into cannabis, as that's the point of all this. My current situation is dealing with severe lows, Frost nightly for two nights and close to frost for three nights prior. Now today A high in 9 I don't see my plant doing a whole lot more than maybe getting moldy. I've gone out shook off buds, hope to protect. Also tried to dry them off a little via air. From what I read Frost goes deep down and saturates buds, key to removing it immediately so rat does not take place or degrading trichomes. I plan to do indoor growing this winter after having a successful outdoor grow. Which will be a whole new set of problems

jimihendrix1 said:

We dont use bloom boosters, or epsom salts. Outside we use 19-19-19, and potassium sulfate. Dolomitic lime, and calcitic lime. 2/3 calcitic x 1/3 dolomite. Been using this combination for more than 40 years.

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It wasn't you it was a fellow below that said he doesn't use epsom salt because of it. That seems like a good outdoor mix. Do you deal with extreme cold temperatures. Side note

jimihendrix1 said:

We dont use bloom boosters, or epsom salts. Outside we use 19-19-19, and potassium sulfate. Dolomitic lime, and calcitic lime. 2/3 calcitic x 1/3 dolomite. Been using this combination for more than 40 years.

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Back to the tree Hoppers too I think that's a major culprit too not blaming it on the Epsom salt. I just don't like Epsom salt. And that was a reason to hate on it sorry it may work for some applications. Easily Burns cannabis. I've had hydrogen peroxide burn as well I'll touch on that later. Science experiment at the moment. The only way to figure stuff out. Might have to sacrifice something in order to do it this day and age people don't like to sacrifice. Even when it comes to your medicine you may have to sacrifice. If not you might may stay unhealthy. Or pay more in the long run. For a short-term experiment.

jimihendrix1 said:

We dont use bloom boosters, or epsom salts. Outside we use 19-19-19, and potassium sulfate. Dolomitic lime, and calcitic lime. 2/3 calcitic x 1/3 dolomite. Been using this combination for more than 40 years.

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I felt like the over use of nutrients had something to do with it. I watered heavy and it adventually brought it out of the black growth. Triple 19 is a strong dose, in my opinion.
I only use processed chicken manure and earthworm castings and leaf compost.

whatscooking said:

I felt like the over use of nutrients had something to do with it. I watered heavy and it adventually brought it out of the black growth. Triple 19 is a strong dose, in my opinion.
I only use processed chicken manure and earthworm castings and leaf compost.

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Ive used 19-19-19 for 40 years. Along with 0-0-50... Potassium Sulfate.
Ive used this both inside, and out. In containers, and in the ground.
My food I mainly feed for inide is 19.5-20-39, and Ive used that for 10 years. It came from Hydro Gardens, who went out of business because of th e pandemic. They had been making Greenhouse supplies, and fertilizer since the 1960s, and Plant Specific Fertilizer since the 80s.

Also how strong 19-19-19 is, is dependent upon how much you put in the soil. All 19-19-19 is, is a ratio. And in reality, according to Hydro Gardens, 19, is to low for Potassium. According to them, Potassium should be 2x what Phosphorus is. And again, it ( PPM ) all depends on how much you put into the soil, or container.
I usually put about a level TBLSP per hole that measures 4 x 4 x 3 feet deep. And 1/4 TBLSP of 0-0-52 per hole. And top dress every 6 weeks.
Before we used 19-19-19 we used individual NPK.

Back then you could get 46-0-0... 0-44-0...0-0-50, of which you can still get, and you can also get 0-0-62. I prefer the 0-0-52 as it supplies Sulfur. Never had a problem using the individual fertilizers either. Thats what many farmers use on crops.

Ive also used organic, more times than I can count, and when I use that, I use..... 13-11-2 Peruvian Seabird Guano... 0-11-0 Peruvian Seabird Guano. Gypsum, Crab Meal, Biochar, Kelp, Azomite, Worm Castings. I usually do organic in Promix BX.

But we have never had any problems with fertilizer.

There is still no evidence that this purpling is caused by phytoplasma infection. We've been discussing this since 2016 and no one has had a plant with these symptoms tested to confirm phytoplasma. Some people claim they have been able to get rid of this issue, which would not be possible if it were truly a phytoplasma infection.

This is an actual phytoplasma infection in cannabis, it looks nothing like this "black death" disease: