The Next Generation Agriculture: Role of functional endophytic microbiome in Cannabis varieties against mycotoxigenic fungi and Powdery mildew.

Recent publications have surveyed cannabis flower microbiological communities, detecting several concerning genera like Aspergillus spp., Penicillium spp. Clostridium, Eschericia, Salmonella and Staphyloccus. There are several documented cannabis complications and even fatalities due to Aspergillosis in immuno-compromised patients. One must also recognize that strict and nonspecific microbial regulations can eliminate the use of beneficial microorganisms in agriculture and deliver unforeseen consequences in the marketplace. Mandated laboratory testing for non-specific total yeast and mold petri-dish assays will fail commonly when used chitinase (anti-fungal) producing microorganisms like Trichoderma hazarium. T. hazarium is known to reduce Aspergillus growth. These false TYM failures can induce growers to use less biological fungicides and more chemical fungicides that are known to concentrate preferentially over cannabinoids in some extraction methods. Antifungal beneficial microbes that are harmless to human health are far easier to sterilize than small molecule fungicides like myclobutanil.

Faculty Supervisor:

Suha Jabaji;Saji George;Saji George

Student:

Partner:

Bio Sun Products Inc.

Discipline:

Life Sciences

Sector:

Professional, scientific and technical services; Wholesale trade

University:

McGill University

Program: