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Placido DF, Lee CC. Potential of Industrial Hemp for Phytoremediation of Heavy Metals. PLANTS (BASEL, SWITZERLAND) 2022; 11:plants11050595. [PMID: 35270065 PMCID: PMC8912475 DOI: 10.3390/plants11050595] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/29/2022] [Revised: 02/09/2022] [Accepted: 02/16/2022] [Indexed: 05/27/2023]
Abstract
The accumulation of anthropogenic heavy metals in soil is a major form of pollution. Such potentially toxic elements are nonbiodegradable and persist for many years as threats to human and environmental health. Traditional forms of remediation are costly and potentially damaging to the land. An alternative strategy is phytoremediation, where plants are used to capture metals from the environment. Industrial hemp (Cannabis sativa) is a promising candidate for phytoremediation. Hemp has deep roots and is tolerant to the accumulation of different metals. In addition, the crop biomass has many potential commercial uses after harvesting is completed. Furthermore, the recent availability of an annotated genome sequence provides a powerful tool for the bioengineering of C. sativa for better phytoremediation.
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Aardema ML, DeSalle R. Can public online databases serve as a source of phenotypic information for Cannabis genetic association studies? PLoS One 2021; 16:e0247607. [PMID: 33621243 PMCID: PMC7901747 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0247607] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/28/2020] [Accepted: 02/09/2021] [Indexed: 12/20/2022] Open
Abstract
The use of Cannabis is gaining greater social acceptance for its beneficial medicinal and recreational uses. With this acceptance has come new opportunities for crop management, selective breeding, and the potential for targeted genetic manipulation. However, as an agricultural product Cannabis lags far behind other domesticated plants in knowledge of the genes and genetic variation that influence plant traits of interest such as growth form and chemical composition. Despite this lack of information, there are substantial publicly available resources that document phenotypic traits believed to be associated with particular Cannabis varieties. Such databases could be a valuable resource for developing a greater understanding of genes underlying phenotypic variation if combined with appropriate genetic information. To test this potential, we collated phenotypic data from information available through multiple online databases. We then produced a Cannabis SNP database from 845 strains to examine genome wide associations in conjunction with our assembled phenotypic traits. Our goal was not to locate Cannabis-specific genetic variation that correlates with phenotypic variation as such, but rather to examine the potential utility of these databases more broadly for future, explicit genome wide association studies (GWAS), either in stand-alone analyses or to complement other types of data. For this reason, we examined a very broad array of phenotypic traits. In total, we performed 201 distinct association tests using web-derived phenotype data appended to 290 uniquely named Cannabis strains. Our results indicated that chemical phenotypes, such as tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) and cannabidiol (CBD) content, may have sufficiently high-quality information available through web-based sources to allow for genetic association inferences. In many cases, variation in chemical traits correlated with genetic variation in or near biologically reasonable candidate genes, including several not previously implicated in Cannabis chemical variation. As with chemical phenotypes, we found that publicly available data on growth traits such as height, area of growth, and floral yield may be precise enough for use in future association studies. In contrast, phenotypic information for subjective traits such as taste, physiological affect, neurological affect, and medicinal use appeared less reliable. These results are consistent with the high degree of subjectivity for such trait data found on internet databases, and suggest that future work on these important but less easily quantifiable characteristics of Cannabis may require dedicated, controlled phenotyping.
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Affiliation(s)
- Matthew L. Aardema
- Department of Biology, Montclair State University, Montclair, New Jersey, United States of America
- Sackler Institute for Comparative Genomics, American Museum of Natural History, New York, New York, United States of America
- * E-mail:
| | - Rob DeSalle
- Sackler Institute for Comparative Genomics, American Museum of Natural History, New York, New York, United States of America
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Ahmed S, Gao X, Jahan MA, Adams M, Wu N, Kovinich N. Nanoparticle-based genetic transformation of Cannabis sativa. J Biotechnol 2020; 326:48-51. [PMID: 33373624 DOI: 10.1016/j.jbiotec.2020.12.014] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/03/2020] [Revised: 11/13/2020] [Accepted: 12/18/2020] [Indexed: 12/27/2022]
Abstract
Cannabis sativa (Cannabis) is a multipurpose plant species consisting of specific lineages that for centuries has either been artificially selected for the production of fiber or the psychoactive drug Δ9-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC). With the recent lifting of previous legal restrictions on consuming Cannabis, there has been a resurgence of interest in understanding and manipulating Cannabis genetics to enhance its compositions. Yet, recently developed approaches are not amenable to high-throughput gene stacking to study multi-genic traits. Here, we demonstrate an efficient nanoparticle-based transient gene transformation protocol where multiple gene plasmids can be expressed simultaneously in intact Cannabis leaf cells in a very short time (5 days). Constructs encoding two soybean transcription factors were co-grafted onto poly-ethylenimine cationic polymer-modified silicon dioxide-coated gold nanoparticles (PEI-Au@SiO2). Infiltration of the DNA-PEI-Au@SiO2 into Cannabis leaf tissues resulted in the transcription of both soybean genes and the localization of fluorescent-tagged transcription factor proteins in the nuclei of Cannabis leaf cells including the trichomes, which are the cell types that biosynthesize valuable cannabinoid and terpene metabolites. Our study exemplifies a rapid transient gene transformation approach that will be useful to study the effects of gene stacking in Cannabis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sajjad Ahmed
- Department of Biology, York University, Toronto, ON, M3J 1P3, Canada
| | - Xuefei Gao
- Department of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering, West Virginia University, Morgantown, WV, 26506, USA
| | - Md Asraful Jahan
- Division of Plant and Soil Sciences, West Virginia University, Morgantown, WV, 26506, USA
| | - Maxwell Adams
- Department of Biology, West Virginia University, Morgantown, WV, 26506, USA
| | - Nianqiang Wu
- Department of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering, West Virginia University, Morgantown, WV, 26506, USA; Department of Chemical Engineering, University of Massachusetts Amherst, Amherst, MA 01003-9303, USA
| | - Nik Kovinich
- Department of Biology, York University, Toronto, ON, M3J 1P3, Canada; Division of Plant and Soil Sciences, West Virginia University, Morgantown, WV, 26506, USA.
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Henry P, Khatodia S, Kapoor K, Gonzales B, Middleton A, Hong K, Hilyard A, Johnson S, Allen D, Chester Z, Jin D, Rodriguez Jule JC, Wilson I, Gangola M, Broome J, Caplan D, Adhikary D, Deyholos MK, Morgan M, Hall OW, Guppy BJ, Orser C. A single nucleotide polymorphism assay sheds light on the extent and distribution of genetic diversity, population structure and functional basis of key traits in cultivated north American cannabis. J Cannabis Res 2020; 2:26. [PMID: 33526123 PMCID: PMC7819309 DOI: 10.1186/s42238-020-00036-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/20/2020] [Accepted: 09/04/2020] [Indexed: 11/23/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND The taxonomic classification of Cannabis genus has been delineated through three main types: sativa (tall and less branched plant with long and narrow leaves), indica (short and highly branched plant with broader leaves) and ruderalis (heirloom type with short stature, less branching and small thick leaves). While still under discussion, particularly whether the genus is polytypic or monotypic, this broad classification reflects putative geographical origins of each group and putative chemotype and pharmacologic effect. METHODS Here we describe a thorough investigation of cannabis accessions using a set of 23 highly informative and polymorphic SNP (Single Nucleotide Polymorphism) markers associated with important traits such as cannabinoid and terpenoid expression as well as fibre and resin production. The assay offers insight into cannabis population structure, phylogenetic relationship, population genetics and correlation to secondary metabolite concentrations. We demonstrate the utility of the assay for rapid, repeatable and cost-efficient genotyping of commercial and industrial cannabis accessions for use in product traceability, breeding programs, regulatory compliance and consumer education. RESULTS We identified 5 clusters in the sample set, including industrial hemp (K5) and resin hemp, which likely underwent a bottleneck to stabilize cannabidiolic acid (CBDA) accumulation (K2, Type II & III). Tetrahydrocannabinolic acid (THCA) resin (Type I) makes up the other three clusters with terpinolene (K4 - colloquial "sativa" or "Narrow Leaflet Drug" (NLD), myrcene/pinene (K1) and myrcene/limonene/linalool (K3 - colloquial "indica", "Broad Leaflet Drug" (BLD), which also putatively harbour an active version of the cannabichrometic acid Synthase gene (CBCAS). CONCLUSION The final chemical compositions of cannabis products have key traits related to their genetic identities. Our analyses in the context of the NCBI Cannabis sativa Annotation Release 100 allows for hypothesis testing with regards to secondary metabolite production. Genetic markers related to secondary metabolite production will be important in many sectors of the cannabis marketplace. For example, markers related to THC production will be important for adaptable and compliant large-scale seed production under the new US Domestic Hemp Production Program.
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Affiliation(s)
- Philippe Henry
- VSSL Enterprises Ltd., West Kelowna, BC, Canada.
- Digipath Labs Inc., Las Vegas, NV, USA.
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | - Dan Jin
- Biomedical Engineering, University of Alberta, Edmonton, AB, Canada
- Polar Bear Genome BioPharma, Edmonton, AB, Canada
- Labs-Mart Inc., Edmonton, AB, Canada
| | | | - Iain Wilson
- Okanagan Gold Cannabis Corp, West Kelowna, BC, Canada
| | - Manu Gangola
- The Flowr Group (Okanagan) Inc., Kelowna, BC, Canada
| | - Jason Broome
- The Flowr Group (Okanagan) Inc., Kelowna, BC, Canada
- HYTN Beverages, Vancouver, BC, Canada
| | - Deron Caplan
- The Flowr Group (Okanagan) Inc., Kelowna, BC, Canada
| | - Dinesh Adhikary
- Biology, The University of British Columbia Okanagan, Kelowna, BC, Canada
| | - Michael K Deyholos
- Biology, The University of British Columbia Okanagan, Kelowna, BC, Canada
| | - Michael Morgan
- Biology, The University of British Columbia Okanagan, Kelowna, BC, Canada
- Noble Growth Corp, Drayton Valley, AB, Canada
| | | | - Brent J Guppy
- Synthase Genetics Inc., Winnipeg, MB, Canada
- OneLeaf Cannabis Co., Regina, Saskatchewan, Canada
- Botanist Organic Growers, Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada
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Henry P, Khatodia S, Kapoor K, Gonzales B, Middleton A, Hong K, Hilyard A, Johnson S, Allen D, Chester Z, Jin D, Rodriguez Jule JC, Wilson I, Gangola M, Broome J, Caplan D, Adhikary D, Deyholos MK, Morgan M, Hall OW, Guppy BJ, Orser C. A single nucleotide polymorphism assay sheds light on the extent and distribution of genetic diversity, population structure and functional basis of key traits in cultivated north American cannabis. J Cannabis Res 2020; 2:26. [PMID: 33526123 DOI: 10.1101/2020.02.16.951459] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/20/2020] [Accepted: 09/04/2020] [Indexed: 05/22/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND The taxonomic classification of Cannabis genus has been delineated through three main types: sativa (tall and less branched plant with long and narrow leaves), indica (short and highly branched plant with broader leaves) and ruderalis (heirloom type with short stature, less branching and small thick leaves). While still under discussion, particularly whether the genus is polytypic or monotypic, this broad classification reflects putative geographical origins of each group and putative chemotype and pharmacologic effect. METHODS Here we describe a thorough investigation of cannabis accessions using a set of 23 highly informative and polymorphic SNP (Single Nucleotide Polymorphism) markers associated with important traits such as cannabinoid and terpenoid expression as well as fibre and resin production. The assay offers insight into cannabis population structure, phylogenetic relationship, population genetics and correlation to secondary metabolite concentrations. We demonstrate the utility of the assay for rapid, repeatable and cost-efficient genotyping of commercial and industrial cannabis accessions for use in product traceability, breeding programs, regulatory compliance and consumer education. RESULTS We identified 5 clusters in the sample set, including industrial hemp (K5) and resin hemp, which likely underwent a bottleneck to stabilize cannabidiolic acid (CBDA) accumulation (K2, Type II & III). Tetrahydrocannabinolic acid (THCA) resin (Type I) makes up the other three clusters with terpinolene (K4 - colloquial "sativa" or "Narrow Leaflet Drug" (NLD), myrcene/pinene (K1) and myrcene/limonene/linalool (K3 - colloquial "indica", "Broad Leaflet Drug" (BLD), which also putatively harbour an active version of the cannabichrometic acid Synthase gene (CBCAS). CONCLUSION The final chemical compositions of cannabis products have key traits related to their genetic identities. Our analyses in the context of the NCBI Cannabis sativa Annotation Release 100 allows for hypothesis testing with regards to secondary metabolite production. Genetic markers related to secondary metabolite production will be important in many sectors of the cannabis marketplace. For example, markers related to THC production will be important for adaptable and compliant large-scale seed production under the new US Domestic Hemp Production Program.
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Affiliation(s)
- Philippe Henry
- VSSL Enterprises Ltd., West Kelowna, BC, Canada.
- Digipath Labs Inc., Las Vegas, NV, USA.
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | - Dan Jin
- Biomedical Engineering, University of Alberta, Edmonton, AB, Canada
- Polar Bear Genome BioPharma, Edmonton, AB, Canada
- Labs-Mart Inc., Edmonton, AB, Canada
| | | | - Iain Wilson
- Okanagan Gold Cannabis Corp, West Kelowna, BC, Canada
| | - Manu Gangola
- The Flowr Group (Okanagan) Inc., Kelowna, BC, Canada
| | - Jason Broome
- The Flowr Group (Okanagan) Inc., Kelowna, BC, Canada
- HYTN Beverages, Vancouver, BC, Canada
| | - Deron Caplan
- The Flowr Group (Okanagan) Inc., Kelowna, BC, Canada
| | - Dinesh Adhikary
- Biology, The University of British Columbia Okanagan, Kelowna, BC, Canada
| | - Michael K Deyholos
- Biology, The University of British Columbia Okanagan, Kelowna, BC, Canada
| | - Michael Morgan
- Biology, The University of British Columbia Okanagan, Kelowna, BC, Canada
- Noble Growth Corp, Drayton Valley, AB, Canada
| | | | - Brent J Guppy
- Synthase Genetics Inc., Winnipeg, MB, Canada
- OneLeaf Cannabis Co., Regina, Saskatchewan, Canada
- Botanist Organic Growers, Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada
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