Tissue culture is a term often used to describe meristem culture. However, it is not actually “tissue culture” but rather “meristem culture.” This revolutionary method allows for the production of completely virus-free cannabis plants, eliminating Hop Latent Viroid (HLVD), a virus that now affects over 80% of cannabis plants tested worldwide.
At Botafarm, we use this advanced technique to ensure healthy, vigorous, and high-performing plants with no trace of the virus. Want to understand how it works? No worries, we’ll explain it in simple terms.
Why Does Meristem Culture Eliminate HLVD?
HLVD is a stealthy virus that circulates only in the plant’s vascular system—the network through which water and nutrients flow. It spreads through the roots, stem, leaves, branches—everywhere the sap moves.
But there is one tiny part of the plant where HLVD cannot reach: the meristem.
The meristem is like the brain of the plant—a microscopic cluster of cells located at the tips of stems and roots. It is smaller than a grain of sand and contains no vascular system, meaning it is completely free of the virus.
The goal of meristem culture is simple: extract this virus-free meristem, culture it in a controlled environment, and rebuild a healthy plant around it.
How Does Meristem Culture Work?
The process is highly delicate, requiring an ultra-sterile environment, a powerful microscope, and extreme precision. Here’s how it works:
1. Extracting the Meristem
• A small cutting is taken from the apex of a plant, meaning the tip of the main stem.
• The outer layers of leaves are carefully peeled away, exposing the inner core of the apex.
• The meristem is isolated and transferred into a sterile culture medium.
2. Regenerating the Plant
• The meristem is placed in a test tube filled with a nutrient-rich gel made of agar-agar.
• This gel contains specific plant hormones called cytokinins (like benzylaminopurine, BAP), which stimulate leaf and stem growth.
• Gradually, a new apex forms around the meristem, leaf by leaf, without any trace of the virus.
3. Root Development
• Once the apex has fully developed, the gel is replaced.
• This time, cytokinins are removed and replaced with auxins (such as indole-3-butyric acid, IBA or naphthalene acetic acid, NAA), which stimulate root formation.
• The young plant then develops a strong, healthy root system.
4. PCR Testing for Virus Detection
• When the plant has grown enough, root samples are taken for PCR testing.
• Why test the roots? Because PCR testing is 100% accurate when analyzing root samples. Testing leaves or branches can result in false negatives.
• If the PCR test comes back negative, the plant is officially HLVD-free and ready for cultivation or breeding.
Why Eliminating HLVD Is Essential
Hop Latent Viroid is the invisible plague of cannabis. It can infect a plant without visible symptoms at first, but over time, it weakens the plant entirely.
Effects of HLVD on Cannabis:
• Lower cannabinoid content (THC, CBD, etc.)
• Significant yield loss
• Reduced terpene profile, meaning less aroma and flavor
• Weakened immune system, making the plant more prone to diseases and stress
It’s like HIV for cannabis—it destroys the plant’s immune defenses, making it weaker and less productive.
Optimizing the Plant with Hormones
Meristem culture isn’t just for eliminating viruses. By using different hormone combinations, we can influence plant traits and improve performance.
Hormones and Their Effects:
• Cytokinins (BAP, Kinetin, Zeatin) → Stimulate stem and leaf growth, promote branching for higher flower production.
• Auxins (IBA, NAA, IAA) → Promote rapid and strong root development.
• Gibberellins (GA3) → Stimulate stem elongation, can be used to control plant structure.
• Salicylic Acid & Jasmonates → Increase resistance to pathogens and environmental stress.
• Abscisic Acid (ABA) → Helps the plant tolerate drought and harsh conditions.
With these hormones, we can customize plant structure, enhance resistance to disease, and maximize terpene and cannabinoid production, leading to stronger, higher-quality cannabis strains.
Why Botafarm Uses Meristem Culture
At Botafarm, we believe there is no better way to ensure the highest-quality cannabis genetics.
Our plants are virus-free, our genetics are pure and preserved, and we have complete control over their development using meristem culture.
Most seed breeders do not use this method and continue working with infected plants, leading to weaker strains, lower yields, and reduced quality.
At Botafarm, we guarantee HLVD-free seeds, backed by rigorous laboratory selection.
Conclusion: Meristem Culture Is the Future of Cannabis
HLVD is a silent epidemic affecting over 80% of cannabis crops worldwide. The only reliable way to eliminate it is through meristem culture, which extracts the plant’s virus-free “brain” and rebuilds a healthy plant around it.
Thanks to this technique, Botafarm guarantees pure, healthy, and high-performing genetics, with higher THC levels, richer terpene profiles, and stronger yields.
If you want to grow healthy, powerful cannabis, don’t take risks—trust Botafarm’s meristem-
cultured genetics.
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