2nd Place: D3064: The green screen: Utilizing the hemp virome to screen germplasm for resistance to emerging viruses and viroids in hemp

With its recent legalization, hemp (Cannabis sativa L.), has become an emerging industry in the United States, with 54.2 thousand acres planted in 2021. While the cultivation of hemp has taken off in the US, the extent of pathogen diversity has yet to be studied. As production increases and the crop diversifies, the emergence and spread of these pathogens are imminent. The goal of this study is to describe the diversity and distribution of viruses/viroids infecting hemp in Colorado to help prevent crop loss due to diseases. Previous work revealed seven viruses and one viroid infecting hemp in Colorado, however, in order to determine time of emergence as well as genetic susceptibility, a more systematic approach is necessary. In this study, three of the major hemp-producing regions in Colorado will be analyzed. Tissue samples were collected from two cultivars of hemp from each farm visited in these regions at three timepoints throughout the growing season. These samples were submitted for Next Generation Sequencing and upon bioinformatic analysis, candidate virus/viroid sequences will be validated. With the results of the metagenomic data, 30 different lines of hemp will be screened for resistance to the top 3 predominant viruses/viroids found in the virome. These 30 lines are inbred and bi-parental F2 populations which will facilitate the discovery of candidate genes involved in virus resistance. This work aims to further integrated pest management strategies in the hemp industry to promote sustainable agriculture.