Pathogen Screening

Pathogen screening refers to laboratory testing protocols used to detect microbial contamination in cannabis plant material, including bacteria, fungi, and mold species. This practice is part of quality assurance and regulatory compliance in licensed cultivation and processing. Breeders and cultivators use pathogen screening data to identify plant genetics or growing conditions that show resistance or susceptibility to specific pathogens. Understanding pathogen profiles helps breeding programs select for more robust lineages. Screening is distinct from aroma profiling but is often documented alongside terpene and cannabinoid analysis in modern seed catalogs.

Breeders working in regulated markets increasingly cross-reference pathogen screening results to develop cultivars with stronger natural resistance to common threats like powdery mildew, botrytis, and bacterial pathogens. Lineage records that include pathogen data help inform parental selection for disease-resilient offspring.