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

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Podcast: [Cannabis Cultivation and Science Podcast](https://stenobird.com/podcast/cannabis-cultivation-and-science-podcast-224812)
Published: 2026-03-17T06:00:00+00:00
Episode link: https://www.kisorganics.com/pages/podcast
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Duration seconds: 4231

## Resource

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.

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## Transcript

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