Episode 161: The Secret Lives of Pathogens with Dr. Zamir Punja

Cannabis Cultivation and Science Podcast

Tad Hussey.

Grow, Leisure, Natural Sciences, Cannabis, Science, Cultivation, Gardening, Weed, Organics, Home & Garden, Growing, Marijuana

4.7 • 716 Ratings

🗓️ 17 March 2026

⏱️ 71 minutes

🔗️ Recording | iTunes | RSS

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Summary

In this episode, Tad Hussey sits down with the "Godfather of Cannabis Pathology," Dr. Zamir Punja, Professor of Plant Pathology and Biotechnology at Simon Fraser University. Dr. Punja shares groundbreaking research from 2024 and 2025 that challenges everything we thought we knew about bud rot, viroids, and the internal microbiome of the cannabis plant. We dive deep into the riskiest time week for contracting Botrytis, the surprising discovery of mycorrhizae inside seeds, and a brand-new 2026 observation regarding how cannabis plants "expel" excess salts and silica through their leaf hairs. If you’ve ever struggled with late-stage mold or wondered how HLVd really spreads, this scientific deep-dive is a must-listen.

Transcript

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0:00.0	Welcome to the Cannabis
0:03.0	and Science Podcast.
0:20.0	I'm your host, Tad Hussey of KISS Organics.
0:23.4	This is the podcast where we discuss the cutting edge of growing from a science-based perspective
0:27.9	and drawn top experts from around the industry to share their wisdom and knowledge.
0:32.4	Our guest today is a figure who truly needs no introduction for anyone serious about the science of this plant.
0:39.2	Dr. Zemir Punga is a professor of plant pathology and biotechnology at Simon Fraser University
0:45.0	and is widely regarded as one of the world's leading authorities on cannabis diseases.
0:50.3	For over three decades, his research is focused on the management of plant diseases and high-value
0:55.4	horticultural crops, but over the last several years, he has turned his laboratory's focus
1:00.0	towards the invisible challenges facing cannabis. His foundational work identifying fusarium and
1:05.8	pithium species to his most recent 2024 and 2025 breakthroughs in Hoplatan Viroid and the cannabis microbiome,
1:14.1	Dr. Punga's research is the primary reason we understand how pathogens move through our facilities
1:18.9	and into our plants.
1:20.8	He joins us today to discuss the pathogen complexes that threaten our harvest,
1:24.9	the secret life of endophytic microbes, and why the most
1:28.5	dangerous window for bud rot might be earlier than you think.
1:32.3	Now, before we dive into the science with Dr. Punja, I have a massive announcement.
1:36.8	The Cannabis Cultivation and Science Conference is returning to collective elevation in
1:41.0	Bozeman, Montana, this August 28th.
1:43.5	We are taking things to a completely
1:45.2	different level this year. We've actually rented out a 1,200-person concert hall for our Saturday
	...

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