Aurora Cannabis, a Canadian-based medical cannabis company, claims it's making significant progress in its powdery mildew (PM) resistance research, nearly one year after the company's discovery of a novel source of genetic resistance against powdery mildew, PM2.
Since the initial discovery, Aurora has performed multiple rounds of crosses to transfer PM2 resistance into elite breeding lines. The research involves testing in breeding populations through controlled infection trials with high disease pressure, validating the durability and effectiveness of PM2 resistance. These trials are done to ensure that disease resistance is integrated into high-performing genetics without compromising quality traits, that are critical for patients and consumers globally.
"By moving from research into production trials of cultivars with verified PM2 resistance at our Aurora Ridge manufacturing facility, we're not only validating the science but also shaping the future of cannabis cultivation," said Lana Culley, Vice President of Innovation and International Operations at Aurora. "This progress marks a critical step toward commercialization of powdery mildew-resistant cultivars and demonstrates how science-driven innovation adds great value to our global portfolio of proprietary cannabis products."
The proprietary genetic marker technology behind PM2 was developed by scientists at Aurora Coast, the company's research and development facility, and builds from Aurora's previous collaboration with researchers at the University of British Columbia and research funding from Genome British Columbia. Should the production trials be successful, the company will look to commercialize PM-resistance cultivars later this year, which will protect plant health, reduce operational costs and improve product quality.
This intellectual property is currently patent pending in Canada, United States, Europe, Australia, New Zealand, and Israel.
