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Cahill MS, Arsenault T, Bui TH, Zuverza-Mena N, Bharadwaj A, Prapayotin-Riveros K, White JC, Dimkpa CO. Copper Stimulation of Tetrahydrocannabinol and Cannabidiol Production in Hemp ( Cannabis sativa L.) Is Copper-Type, Dose, and Cultivar Dependent. JOURNAL OF AGRICULTURAL AND FOOD CHEMISTRY 2024; 72:6921-6930. [PMID: 38516700 DOI: 10.1021/acs.jafc.3c07819] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 03/23/2024]
Abstract
Copper (Cu) is an element widely used as a pesticide for the control of plant diseases. Cu is also known to influence a range of plant secondary metabolisms. However, it is not known whether Cu influences the levels of the major metabolites in hemp (Cannabis sativa L.), tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) and cannabidiol (CBD). This study investigated the impact of Cu on the levels of these cannabinoids in two hemp cultivars, Wife and Merlot, under field conditions, as a function of harvest time (August-September), Cu type (nano, bulk, or ionic), and dose (50, 100, and 500 ppm). In Wife, Cu caused significant temporal increases in THC and CBD production during plant growth, reaching increases of 33% and 31% for THC and 51% and 16.5% for CBD by harvests 3 and 4, respectively. CuO nanoparticles at 50 and 100 ppm significantly increased THC and CBD levels, compared to the control, respectively, by 18% and 27% for THC and 19.9% and 33.6% for CBD. These nanospecific increases coincided with significantly more Cu in the inflorescences (buds) than in the control and bulk CuO treatments. Contrarily, no temporal induction of the cannabinoids by Cu was noticed in Merlot, suggesting a cultivar-specific response to Cu. However, overall, in Merlot, Cu ions, but not particulate Cu, induced THC and CBD levels by 27% and 36%, respectively, compared to the control. Collectively, our findings provide information with contrasting implications in the production of these cannabinoids, where, dependent on the cultivar, metabolite levels may rise above the 0.3% regulatory threshold for THC but to a more profitable level for CBD. Further investigations with a wider range of hemp cultivars, CuO nanoparticle (NP) doses, and harvest times would clarify the significance and broader implications of the findings.
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Affiliation(s)
- Meghan S Cahill
- Department of Analytical Chemistry, The Connecticut Agricultural Experiment Station (CAES), New Haven, Connecticut 06511, United States
| | - Terri Arsenault
- Department of Analytical Chemistry, The Connecticut Agricultural Experiment Station (CAES), New Haven, Connecticut 06511, United States
| | - Trung Huu Bui
- Department of Analytical Chemistry, The Connecticut Agricultural Experiment Station (CAES), New Haven, Connecticut 06511, United States
| | - Nubia Zuverza-Mena
- Department of Analytical Chemistry, The Connecticut Agricultural Experiment Station (CAES), New Haven, Connecticut 06511, United States
| | - Anuja Bharadwaj
- Department of Analytical Chemistry, The Connecticut Agricultural Experiment Station (CAES), New Haven, Connecticut 06511, United States
| | - Kitty Prapayotin-Riveros
- Department of Analytical Chemistry, The Connecticut Agricultural Experiment Station (CAES), New Haven, Connecticut 06511, United States
| | - Jason C White
- Department of Analytical Chemistry, The Connecticut Agricultural Experiment Station (CAES), New Haven, Connecticut 06511, United States
| | - Christian O Dimkpa
- Department of Analytical Chemistry, The Connecticut Agricultural Experiment Station (CAES), New Haven, Connecticut 06511, United States
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Arsenault TL, Prapayotin-Riveros K, Ammirata MA, White JC, Dimkpa CO. Compliance Testing of Hemp ( Cannabis sativa L.) Cultivars for Total Delta-9 THC and Total CBD Using Gas Chromatography with Flame Ionization Detection. PLANTS (BASEL, SWITZERLAND) 2024; 13:519. [PMID: 38498421 PMCID: PMC10892002 DOI: 10.3390/plants13040519] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/29/2023] [Revised: 02/08/2024] [Accepted: 02/12/2024] [Indexed: 03/20/2024]
Abstract
The United States Agriculture Improvement Act passed in December of 2018 legalized the growing of Cannabis sativa containing not more than 0.3% total Delta-9 tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) in the country. While Cannabis sativa has been cultivated for hundreds of years, the illegal status of the plant in the United States, and elsewhere, has hindered the development of plant cultivars that meet this legal definition. To assess sampling strategies, and conformance to the THC limit, 14 cultivars of hemp were grown and tested by using gas chromatography with flame ionization detection for total delta-9 THC and total cannabidiol (CBD) during 2020, 2021 and 2022. Each year, samples of fresh plant material were collected from each cultivar weekly, beginning in mid-August and ending in late October, to examine the rate of increase in THC and CBD for different cultivars and select individual plants. The sampling demonstrated that both CBD and THC increase rapidly over a 1-2-week time frame with maximum concentrations (about 16% and 0.6%, respectively) around late September to early October. The testing of individual plants on the same day for select cultivars showed that while the ratio of CBD to THC remains constant (about 20:1 in compliant hemp) during the growing season, the individual plants are highly variable in concentration. Whereas previous studies have shown cultivar-dependent variability in THC production, this study demonstrated a novel plant-to-plant variability in the levels of THC within the same hemp cultivar. Understanding variability within and between hemp cultivars is useful to determine field sampling strategies and to assess the risk of crop embargoes to growers by compliance regulators.
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Affiliation(s)
- Terri L. Arsenault
- Department of Analytical Chemistry, The Connecticut Agricultural Experiment Station, New Haven, CT 06511, USA; (K.P.-R.); (M.A.A.); (J.C.W.); (C.O.D.)
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Camargo FDG, Santamaria-Torres M, Cala MP, Guevara-Suarez M, Restrepo SR, Sánchez-Camargo A, Fernández-Niño M, Corujo M, Gallo Molina AC, Cifuentes J, Serna JA, Cruz JC, Muñoz-Camargo C, Gonzalez Barrios AF. Genome-Scale Metabolic Reconstruction, Non-Targeted LC-QTOF-MS Based Metabolomics Data, and Evaluation of Anticancer Activity of Cannabis sativa Leaf Extracts. Metabolites 2023; 13:788. [PMID: 37512495 PMCID: PMC10385671 DOI: 10.3390/metabo13070788] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/12/2023] [Revised: 06/18/2023] [Accepted: 06/19/2023] [Indexed: 07/30/2023] Open
Abstract
Over the past decades, Colombia has suffered complex social problems related to illicit crops, including forced displacement, violence, and environmental damage, among other consequences for vulnerable populations. Considerable effort has been made in the regulation of illicit crops, predominantly Cannabis sativa, leading to advances such as the legalization of medical cannabis and its derivatives, the improvement of crops, and leaving an open window to the development of scientific knowledge to explore alternative uses. It is estimated that C. sativa can produce approximately 750 specialized secondary metabolites. Some of the most relevant due to their anticancer properties, besides cannabinoids, are monoterpenes, sesquiterpenoids, triterpenoids, essential oils, flavonoids, and phenolic compounds. However, despite the increase in scientific research on the subject, it is necessary to study the primary and secondary metabolism of the plant and to identify key pathways that explore its great metabolic potential. For this purpose, a genome-scale metabolic reconstruction of C. sativa is described and contextualized using LC-QTOF-MS metabolic data obtained from the leaf extract from plants grown in the region of Pesca-Boyaca, Colombia under greenhouse conditions at the Clever Leaves facility. A compartmentalized model with 2101 reactions and 1314 metabolites highlights pathways associated with fatty acid biosynthesis, steroids, and amino acids, along with the metabolism of purine, pyrimidine, glucose, starch, and sucrose. Key metabolites were identified through metabolomic data, such as neurine, cannabisativine, cannflavin A, palmitoleic acid, cannabinoids, geranylhydroquinone, and steroids. They were analyzed and integrated into the reconstruction, and their potential applications are discussed. Cytotoxicity assays revealed high anticancer activity against gastric adenocarcinoma (AGS), melanoma cells (A375), and lung carcinoma cells (A549), combined with negligible impact against healthy human skin cells.
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Affiliation(s)
- Fidias D González Camargo
- Group of Product and Process Design, Department of Chemical and Food Engineering, Universidad de los Andes, Bogotá 111711, Colombia
- Applied Genomics Research Group Vice-Presidency for Research and Creation, Universidad de los Andes, Bogotá 111711, Colombia
| | - Mary Santamaria-Torres
- Metabolomics Core Facility-MetCore Vice-Presidency for Research and Creation, Universidad de los Andes, Bogotá 111711, Colombia
| | - Mónica P Cala
- Metabolomics Core Facility-MetCore Vice-Presidency for Research and Creation, Universidad de los Andes, Bogotá 111711, Colombia
| | - Marcela Guevara-Suarez
- Applied Genomics Research Group Vice-Presidency for Research and Creation, Universidad de los Andes, Bogotá 111711, Colombia
| | - Silvia Restrepo Restrepo
- Laboratory of Mycology and Phytopathology (LAMFU), Department of Biological Sciences and Department of Chemical and Food Engineering, Universidad de los Andes, Bogotá 111711, Colombia
| | - Andrea Sánchez-Camargo
- Group of Product and Process Design, Department of Chemical and Food Engineering, Universidad de los Andes, Bogotá 111711, Colombia
| | - Miguel Fernández-Niño
- Leibniz-Institute of Plant Biochemistry, Department of Bioorganic Chemistry, Weinberg 3, 06110 Halle, Germany
| | - María Corujo
- Ecomedics S.A.S., Commercially Known as Clever Leaves, Calle 95 # 11A-94, Bogota 110221, Colombia
| | - Ada Carolina Gallo Molina
- Chemical and Biochemical Processes Group, Department of Chemical and Environmental Engineering, National University of Colombia, Bogotá 11001, Colombia
| | - Javier Cifuentes
- Research Group on Nanobiomaterials, Cell Engineering and Bioprinting (GINIB), Department of Biomedical Engineering, Universidad de los Andes, Bogotá 111711, Colombia
| | - Julian A Serna
- Research Group on Nanobiomaterials, Cell Engineering and Bioprinting (GINIB), Department of Biomedical Engineering, Universidad de los Andes, Bogotá 111711, Colombia
| | - Juan C Cruz
- Research Group on Nanobiomaterials, Cell Engineering and Bioprinting (GINIB), Department of Biomedical Engineering, Universidad de los Andes, Bogotá 111711, Colombia
| | - Carolina Muñoz-Camargo
- Research Group on Nanobiomaterials, Cell Engineering and Bioprinting (GINIB), Department of Biomedical Engineering, Universidad de los Andes, Bogotá 111711, Colombia
| | - Andrés F Gonzalez Barrios
- Group of Product and Process Design, Department of Chemical and Food Engineering, Universidad de los Andes, Bogotá 111711, Colombia
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Ingvardsen CR, Brinch-Pedersen H. Challenges and potentials of new breeding techniques in Cannabis sativa. FRONTIERS IN PLANT SCIENCE 2023; 14:1154332. [PMID: 37360738 PMCID: PMC10285108 DOI: 10.3389/fpls.2023.1154332] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/30/2023] [Accepted: 05/24/2023] [Indexed: 06/28/2023]
Abstract
Cannabis sativa L. is an ancient crop used for fiber and seed production and not least for its content of cannabinoids used for medicine and as an intoxicant drug. Due to the psychedelic effect of one of the compounds, tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), many countries had regulations or bands on Cannabis growing, also as fiber or seed crop. Recently, as many of these regulations are getting less tight, the interest for the many uses of this crop is increasing. Cannabis is dioecious and highly heterogenic, making traditional breeding costly and time consuming. Further, it might be difficult to introduce new traits without changing the cannabinoid profile. Genome editing using new breeding techniques might solve these problems. The successful use of genome editing requires sequence information on suitable target genes, a genome editing tool to be introduced into plant tissue and the ability to regenerate plants from transformed cells. This review summarizes the current status of Cannabis breeding, uncovers potentials and challenges of Cannabis in an era of new breeding techniques and finally suggests future focus areas that may help to improve our overall understanding of Cannabis and realize the potentials of the plant.
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Naim-Feil E, Elkins AC, Malmberg MM, Ram D, Tran J, Spangenberg GC, Rochfort SJ, Cogan NOI. The Cannabis Plant as a Complex System: Interrelationships between Cannabinoid Compositions, Morphological, Physiological and Phenological Traits. PLANTS (BASEL, SWITZERLAND) 2023; 12:493. [PMID: 36771577 PMCID: PMC9919051 DOI: 10.3390/plants12030493] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/13/2022] [Revised: 01/12/2023] [Accepted: 01/16/2023] [Indexed: 06/18/2023]
Abstract
Maintaining specific and reproducible cannabinoid compositions (type and quantity) is essential for the production of cannabis-based remedies that are therapeutically effective. The current study investigates factors that determine the plant's cannabinoid profile and examines interrelationships between plant features (growth rate, phenology and biomass), inflorescence morphology (size, shape and distribution) and cannabinoid content. An examination of differences in cannabinoid profile within genotypes revealed that across the cultivation facility, cannabinoids' qualitative traits (ratios between cannabinoid quantities) remain fairly stable, while quantitative traits (the absolute amount of Δ9-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), cannabidiol (CBD), cannabichromene (CBC), cannabigerol (CBG), Δ9-tetrahydrocannabivarin (THCV) and cannabidivarin (CBDV)) can significantly vary. The calculated broad-sense heritability values imply that cannabinoid composition will have a strong response to selection in comparison to the morphological and phenological traits of the plant and its inflorescences. Moreover, it is proposed that selection in favour of a vigorous growth rate, high-stature plants and wide inflorescences is expected to increase overall cannabinoid production. Finally, a range of physiological and phenological features was utilised for generating a successful model for the prediction of cannabinoid production. The holistic approach presented in the current study provides a better understanding of the interaction between the key features of the cannabis plant and facilitates the production of advanced plant-based medicinal substances.
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Affiliation(s)
- Erez Naim-Feil
- Agriculture Victoria, AgriBio, Centre for AgriBioscience, Melbourne, VIC 3083, Australia
- School of Applied Systems Biology, La Trobe University, Melbourne, VIC 3086, Australia
| | - Aaron C. Elkins
- Agriculture Victoria, AgriBio, Centre for AgriBioscience, Melbourne, VIC 3083, Australia
| | - M. Michelle Malmberg
- Agriculture Victoria, AgriBio, Centre for AgriBioscience, Melbourne, VIC 3083, Australia
| | - Doris Ram
- Agriculture Victoria, AgriBio, Centre for AgriBioscience, Melbourne, VIC 3083, Australia
| | - Jonathan Tran
- Agriculture Victoria, AgriBio, Centre for AgriBioscience, Melbourne, VIC 3083, Australia
- School of Applied Systems Biology, La Trobe University, Melbourne, VIC 3086, Australia
| | - German C. Spangenberg
- Agriculture Victoria, AgriBio, Centre for AgriBioscience, Melbourne, VIC 3083, Australia
- School of Applied Systems Biology, La Trobe University, Melbourne, VIC 3086, Australia
| | - Simone J. Rochfort
- Agriculture Victoria, AgriBio, Centre for AgriBioscience, Melbourne, VIC 3083, Australia
- School of Applied Systems Biology, La Trobe University, Melbourne, VIC 3086, Australia
| | - Noel O. I. Cogan
- Agriculture Victoria, AgriBio, Centre for AgriBioscience, Melbourne, VIC 3083, Australia
- School of Applied Systems Biology, La Trobe University, Melbourne, VIC 3086, Australia
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6
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Woods P, Price N, Matthews P, McKay JK. Genome-wide polymorphism and genic selection in feral and domesticated lineages of Cannabis sativa. G3 (BETHESDA, MD.) 2022; 13:jkac209. [PMID: 36018239 PMCID: PMC9911069 DOI: 10.1093/g3journal/jkac209] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/26/2022] [Accepted: 08/01/2022] [Indexed: 11/13/2022]
Abstract
A comprehensive understanding of the degree to which genomic variation is maintained by selection versus drift and gene flow is lacking in many important species such as Cannabis sativa (C. sativa), one of the oldest known crops to be cultivated by humans worldwide. We generated whole genome resequencing data across diverse samples of feralized (escaped domesticated lineages) and domesticated lineages of C. sativa. We performed analyses to examine population structure, and genome wide scans for FST, balancing selection, and positive selection. Our analyses identified evidence for sub-population structure and further support the Asian origin hypothesis of this species. Feral plants sourced from the U.S. exhibited broad regions on chromosomes 4 and 10 with high F̄ST which may indicate chromosomal inversions maintained at high frequency in this sub-population. Both our balancing and positive selection analyses identified loci that may reflect differential selection for traits favored by natural selection and artificial selection in feral versus domesticated sub-populations. In the U.S. feral sub-population, we found six loci related to stress response under balancing selection and one gene involved in disease resistance under positive selection, suggesting local adaptation to new climates and biotic interactions. In the marijuana sub-population, we identified the gene SMALLER TRICHOMES WITH VARIABLE BRANCHES 2 to be under positive selection which suggests artificial selection for increased tetrahydrocannabinol yield. Overall, the data generated, and results obtained from our study help to form a better understanding of the evolutionary history in C. sativa.
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Affiliation(s)
- Patrick Woods
- Graduate Degree Program in Ecology, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, CO 80523, USA
- Department of Agricultural Biology, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, CO 80523, USA
| | - Nicholas Price
- Department of Agricultural Biology, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, CO 80523, USA
- Bioinformatics Research Laboratory, Department of Biological Sciences, University of Cyprus, Nicosia, Cyprus
| | - Paul Matthews
- Present address for Paul Matthews: Hopsteiner, Yakima, WA 98903, USA
| | - John K McKay
- Graduate Degree Program in Ecology, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, CO 80523, USA
- Department of Agricultural Biology, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, CO 80523, USA
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Sirangelo TM, Ludlow RA, Spadafora ND. Multi-Omics Approaches to Study Molecular Mechanisms in Cannabis sativa. PLANTS (BASEL, SWITZERLAND) 2022; 11:2182. [PMID: 36015485 PMCID: PMC9416457 DOI: 10.3390/plants11162182] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/26/2022] [Revised: 08/18/2022] [Accepted: 08/19/2022] [Indexed: 06/15/2023]
Abstract
Cannabis (Cannabis sativa L.), also known as hemp, is one of the oldest cultivated crops, grown for both its use in textile and cordage production, and its unique chemical properties. However, due to the legislation regulating cannabis cultivation, it is not a well characterized crop, especially regarding molecular and genetic pathways. Only recently have regulations begun to ease enough to allow more widespread cannabis research, which, coupled with the availability of cannabis genome sequences, is fuelling the interest of the scientific community. In this review, we provide a summary of cannabis molecular resources focusing on the most recent and relevant genomics, transcriptomics and metabolomics approaches and investigations. Multi-omics methods are discussed, with this combined approach being a powerful tool to identify correlations between biological processes and metabolic pathways across diverse omics layers, and to better elucidate the relationships between cannabis sub-species. The correlations between genotypes and phenotypes, as well as novel metabolites with therapeutic potential are also explored in the context of cannabis breeding programs. However, further studies are needed to fully elucidate the complex metabolomic matrix of this crop. For this reason, some key points for future research activities are discussed, relying on multi-omics approaches.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tiziana M. Sirangelo
- CREA—Council for Agricultural Research and Agricultural Economy Analysis, Genomics and Bioinformatics Department, 26836 Montanaso Lombardo, Italy
| | - Richard A. Ludlow
- School of Biosciences, Cardiff University, Sir Martin Evans Building, Museum Avenue, Cardiff CF10 3AX, UK
| | - Natasha D. Spadafora
- Department of Chemical, Pharmaceutical and Agricultural Sciences, University of Ferrara, 44121 Ferrara, Italy
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Ona G, Balant M, Bouso JC, Gras A, Vallès J, Vitales D, Garnatje T. The Use of Cannabis sativa L. for Pest Control: From the Ethnobotanical Knowledge to a Systematic Review of Experimental Studies. Cannabis Cannabinoid Res 2022; 7:365-387. [PMID: 34612729 PMCID: PMC9418361 DOI: 10.1089/can.2021.0095] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Background: Despite the benefits that synthetic pesticides have provided in terms of pest and disease control, they cause serious long-term consequences for both the environment and living organisms. Interest in eco-friendly products has subsequently increased in recent years. Methods: This article briefly analyzes the available ethnobotanical evidence regarding the use of Cannabis sativa as a pesticide and offers a systematic review of experimental studies. Results: Our findings indicate that both ethnobotanical and experimental procedures support the use of C. sativa as a pesticide, as remarkable toxicity has been observed against pest organisms. The results included in the systematic review of experimental studies (n=30) show a high degree of heterogeneity, but certain conclusions can be extracted to guide further research. For instance, promising pesticide properties were reported for most of the groups of species tested, especially Arachnida and Insecta; the efficacy of C. sativa as a pesticide can be derived from a wide variety of compounds that it contains and possible synergistic effects; it is crucial to standardize the phytochemical profile of C. sativa plants used as well as to obtain easily reproducible results; appropriate extraction methods should be explored; and upper inflorescences of the plant may be preferred for the production of the essential oil, but further studies should explore better other parts of the plant. Conclusion: In the coming years, as new findings are produced, the promising potential of C. sativa as a pesticide will be elucidated, and reviews such as the present one constitute useful basic tools to make these processes easier.
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Affiliation(s)
- Genís Ona
- International Center for Ethnobotanical Education, Research, and Service (ICEERS), Barcelona, Catalonia, Spain
- Medical Anthropology Research Center (MARC), Universitat Rovira i Virgili, Tarragona, Catalonia, Spain
- Department of Psychology and Research Center for Behavior Assessment (CRAMC), Universitat Rovira i Virgili, Tarragona, Catalonia, Spain
- Institut Botànic de Barcelona (IBB, CSIC-Ajuntament de Barcelona), Barcelona, Catalonia, Spain
| | - Manica Balant
- Institut Botànic de Barcelona (IBB, CSIC-Ajuntament de Barcelona), Barcelona, Catalonia, Spain
- Laboratori de Botànica (UB)—Unitat associada al CSIC, Facultat de Farmàcia i Ciències de l'Alimentació, Institut de Recerca de la Biodiversitat (IRBio), Universitat de Barcelona, Barcelona, Catalonia, Spain
| | - José Carlos Bouso
- International Center for Ethnobotanical Education, Research, and Service (ICEERS), Barcelona, Catalonia, Spain
- Medical Anthropology Research Center (MARC), Universitat Rovira i Virgili, Tarragona, Catalonia, Spain
- Department of Neurosciences and Behavior, Ribeirão Preto Medical School, University of São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Airy Gras
- Institut Botànic de Barcelona (IBB, CSIC-Ajuntament de Barcelona), Barcelona, Catalonia, Spain
| | - Joan Vallès
- Laboratori de Botànica (UB)—Unitat associada al CSIC, Facultat de Farmàcia i Ciències de l'Alimentació, Institut de Recerca de la Biodiversitat (IRBio), Universitat de Barcelona, Barcelona, Catalonia, Spain
| | - Daniel Vitales
- Institut Botànic de Barcelona (IBB, CSIC-Ajuntament de Barcelona), Barcelona, Catalonia, Spain
- Laboratori de Botànica (UB)—Unitat associada al CSIC, Facultat de Farmàcia i Ciències de l'Alimentació, Institut de Recerca de la Biodiversitat (IRBio), Universitat de Barcelona, Barcelona, Catalonia, Spain
| | - Teresa Garnatje
- Institut Botànic de Barcelona (IBB, CSIC-Ajuntament de Barcelona), Barcelona, Catalonia, Spain
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Roman MG, Cheng YC, Kerrigan S, Houston R. Evaluation of tetrahydrocannabinolic acid (THCA) synthase polymorphisms for distinguishing between marijuana and hemp. J Forensic Sci 2022; 67:1370-1381. [PMID: 35416290 DOI: 10.1111/1556-4029.15045] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/18/2022] [Revised: 03/28/2022] [Accepted: 03/30/2022] [Indexed: 12/24/2022]
Abstract
The Controlled Substances Act (CSA) classifies marijuana (Cannabis sativa) as a Schedule I illicit drug. However, the recent Agriculture Improvement Act of 2018 (U.S. Farm Bill) removed hemp from the definition of marijuana in the CSA, making it a legal crop. As a result, many hemp products are now available, including strains of hemp buds high in other cannabinoids such as cannabidiol (CBD) or cannabigerol (CBG). The genetic inheritance of chemical phenotype (chemotype) has been widely studied, with the tetrahydrocannabinolic acid (THCA) synthase gene at the forefront. Previous studies have speculated that there are two forms of the THCA gene, one that produces an active enzyme (present in marijuana) and one that cannot produce a functional enzyme (present in hemp). A DNA analysis method is desirable for determining crop type in sample types inconducive to chemical analysis, such as immature crops, trace residues, small leaf fragments, seeds, and root material. This study optimized and evaluated a previously reported single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) assay for determining C. sativa crop type. Furthermore, the presence or absence of 15 cannabinoids, including THC and THCA, was reported in cannabis reference materials and 15 legal hemp flower samples. The SNP assay correctly identified crop type in most samples. However, several marijuana samples were classified as hemp, and several hemp seeds were classified as marijuana. Two strains of legal CBG hemp flowers were also classified as marijuana, indicating that factors other than the genetic variation of the THCA synthase gene should be considered when determining crop type.
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Affiliation(s)
- Madeline G Roman
- Department of Forensic Science, College of Criminal Justice, Sam Houston State University, Huntsville, Texas, USA
| | - Ya-Chih Cheng
- Department of Forensic Science, College of Criminal Justice, Sam Houston State University, Huntsville, Texas, USA
| | - Sarah Kerrigan
- Department of Forensic Science, College of Criminal Justice, Sam Houston State University, Huntsville, Texas, USA
| | - Rachel Houston
- Department of Forensic Science, College of Criminal Justice, Sam Houston State University, Huntsville, Texas, USA
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Attia Z, Pogoda C, Vergara D, Kane NC. Mitochondrial genomes do not appear to regulate flowering pattern/reproductive strategy in Cannabis sativa. AOB PLANTS 2022; 14:plab068. [PMID: 35558164 PMCID: PMC9089828 DOI: 10.1093/aobpla/plab068] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/10/2021] [Accepted: 10/05/2021] [Indexed: 06/15/2023]
Abstract
Currently, the amount of genetic data for Cannabis is lacking due to the illegal nature of the plant. Our study used 73 Cannabis sativa whole-genome shotgun libraries to reveal eight different mtDNA haplotypes. The most common haplotype contained 60 of the 73 samples studied and was composed of only dioecious individuals. However, other haplotypes contained a mix of both mating strategies (i.e. monoecious and dioecious). From these haplotype groupings we further examined the fully annotated mitochondrial genomes of four hemp individuals with different mt haplotypes and recorded gene content, copy number variation and synteny. Our results revealed highly syntenic mitochondrial genomes that contained ~60 identifiable sequences for protein-coding genes, tRNAs and rRNAs and no obvious rearrangements or chimeric genes. We found no clear evidence that modern reproductive patterns are due to simple cytoplasmic male sterility mutations. It is likely the interaction between nuclear genetic components and the X/Y sex chromosomes that determines reproductive strategy. Additionally, we added 50 % more mitochondrial genomes to the publicly available repository.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ziv Attia
- Ecology and Evolutionary and Biology, University of Colorado, Boulder, 1900 Pleasant Street, Boulder, CO 80302, USA
| | - Cloe Pogoda
- Ecology and Evolutionary and Biology, University of Colorado, Boulder, 1900 Pleasant Street, Boulder, CO 80302, USA
| | - Daniela Vergara
- Ecology and Evolutionary and Biology, University of Colorado, Boulder, 1900 Pleasant Street, Boulder, CO 80302, USA
| | - Nolan C Kane
- Ecology and Evolutionary and Biology, University of Colorado, Boulder, 1900 Pleasant Street, Boulder, CO 80302, USA
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The phytochemical diversity of commercial Cannabis in the United States. PLoS One 2022; 17:e0267498. [PMID: 35588111 PMCID: PMC9119530 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0267498] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/28/2021] [Accepted: 04/08/2022] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
The legal status of Cannabis is changing, fueling an increasing diversity of Cannabis-derived products. Because Cannabis contains dozens of chemical compounds with potential psychoactive or medicinal effects, understanding this phytochemical diversity is crucial. The legal Cannabis industry heavily markets products to consumers based on widely used labeling systems purported to predict the effects of different "strains." We analyzed the cannabinoid and terpene content of commercial Cannabis samples across six US states, finding distinct chemical phenotypes (chemotypes) which are reliably present. By comparing the observed phytochemical diversity to the commercial labels commonly attached to Cannabis-derived product samples, we show that commercial labels do not consistently align with the observed chemical diversity. However, certain labels do show a biased association with specific chemotypes. These results have implications for the classification of commercial Cannabis, design of animal and human research, and regulation of consumer marketing-areas which today are often divorced from the chemical reality of the Cannabis-derived material they wish to represent.
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12
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Murovec J, Eržen JJ, Flajšman M, Vodnik D. Analysis of Morphological Traits, Cannabinoid Profiles, THCAS Gene Sequences, and Photosynthesis in Wide and Narrow Leaflet High-Cannabidiol Breeding Populations of Medical Cannabis. FRONTIERS IN PLANT SCIENCE 2022; 13:786161. [PMID: 35283868 PMCID: PMC8907982 DOI: 10.3389/fpls.2022.786161] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/29/2021] [Accepted: 01/14/2022] [Indexed: 06/14/2023]
Abstract
Cannabis sativa L. is one of the oldest cultivated crops, used in medicine for millennia due to therapeutic characteristics of the phytocannabinoids it contains. Its medicinal properties are highly influenced by the chemotype, that is, the ratio of the two main cannabinoids cannabidiol (CBD) and Δ-9-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC). Based on published data, the chemotype should correlate with plant morphology, genetics, and photosynthetic properties. In this work, we investigated leaf morphology, plant growth characteristics, cannabinoid profiles, THCAS gene sequences, and plant photosynthetic traits in two breeding populations of medical cannabis (MX-CBD-11 and MX-CBD-707). The populations differed significantly in morphological traits. The MX-CBD-11 plants were taller, less branched, and their leaves had narrower leaflets than the bushier, wideleaved MX-CBD-707 plants, and there were significant differences between populations in the dry biomass of different plant parts. Based on these morphological differences, MX-CBD-11 was designated as a narrow leaflet drug type or vernacular "Sativa" type, while MX-CBD-707 was classified as wide leaflet drug type or "Indica" type. Chemical characterisation revealed a discrepancy between the expected chemotypes based on plant morphology; although both populations have high CBD, within each Type II (CBD/THC intermediate) and Type III (CBD dominant) plants were detected. The THCAS gene sequence analysis clustered the plants based on their chemotypes and showed high similarity to the THCAS sequences deposited in NCBI. In silico complementary analysis, using published molecular markers for chemotype determination, showed their low discrimination power in our two populations, demonstrating the genotype dependence of the molecular markers. Basic photosynthetic traits derived from light and CO2 response curves were similar in the populations. However, measurements of gas exchange under chamber conditions revealed higher stomatal conductivity and photosynthesis in MX-CBD-707 plants, which were also characterised by higher day respiration. The results of this study showed that based on visual appearance and some morphological measurements, it is not possible to determine a plant's chemotype. Visually homogenous plants had different cannabinoid profiles and, vice versa, morphologically distinct plants contained similar CBD and THC content. The two chemotypes identified in our experimental plants therefore did not correlate with plant visual appearance, leaf morphometry, and photosynthetic properties of the populations studied. Correlation was only demonstrated with the respect to THCAS sequences, which showed great discrimination power between the chemotypes.
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13
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Balant M, Gras A, Ruz M, Vallès J, Vitales D, Garnatje T. Traditional uses of Cannabis: An analysis of the CANNUSE database. JOURNAL OF ETHNOPHARMACOLOGY 2021; 279:114362. [PMID: 34171396 DOI: 10.1016/j.jep.2021.114362] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/22/2021] [Revised: 05/31/2021] [Accepted: 06/20/2021] [Indexed: 06/13/2023]
Abstract
ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE Cannabis is one of the most versatile genera in terms of plant use and has been exploited by humans for millennia. Nowadays, Cannabis is the centre of many scientific studies, most of them focusing on chemical composition and medicinal values. While new and varied applications are continuously being developed, the knowledge surrounding less common uses of the plant is slowly disappearing. AIM OF THE REVIEW We have analysed diversity of global data of Cannabis traditional uses, to investigate if certain plant parts are significantly associated with particular Cannabis use. We wanted to uncover potential associations between the plant parts used for the treatment of different body systems and ailments. MATERIALS AND METHODS We have analysed the extensive database of Cannabis traditional uses (CANNUSE). This database contains 2330 data entries of Cannabis ethnobotanical uses from over 40 countries across the world. The dataset was divided into five general groups based on the type of use: medicinal, alimentary, psychoactive, fibre and other uses. Given the abundance of human medicinal uses, detailed analysis was done on the subset of 1167 data entries. We analysed the relationship between 16 body system categories and ailments treated with Cannabis plant parts. We used a Pearson's chi-square and Fisher's exact test, to determine which Cannabis parts are characteristic of treatment for specific ailments. RESULTS In this dataset, the majority of reports were represented by medicinal (75.41%), followed by psychoactive (8.35%) and alimentary (7.29%) use. The most commonly used plant parts were leaf (50.51%), seed (15.38%) and inflorescence (11.35%). We found that different Cannabis plant parts were significantly associated with different uses; the leaf was typically used for medicinal, seed for alimentary and inflorescence for psychoactive use. Regarding the human medicinal uses, most common were reports for treatments of the digestive system and nutritional disorders (17.66%), nervous system and mental disorders (16.24%), followed by pain and inflammations (12.21%). We found a significant relationship between the use of certain Cannabis parts and treatment of ailments and body systems categories; leaf was significantly associated with treatment of two categories: skin and subcutaneous tissue disorders and circulatory system and blood disorders; seed use was associated with musculoskeletal system disorders and traumas; while inflorescence use shows a statistical support for treatment of nervous system and mental disorders. CONCLUSION Several pharmaceutical companies are intensely working on developing new drugs with isolated chemical compounds or crude extracts, almost exclusively from Cannabis inflorescences. However, our review revealed that use of leaf or seed in traditional medicine is often more important than use of inflorescence for the treatment of certain ailments. A review of traditional medicine provides a body of knowledge and an initial pathway to identify landraces and plant parts that could have an important role in future medicinal research. We are confident that traditional medicine still has a large potential for modern medicine. As more information on Cannabis diversity (genetics, biochemistry, and clinical studies) becomes available, ethnobotanical data are poised to be of much greater significance.
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Affiliation(s)
- Manica Balant
- Institut Botànic de Barcelona (IBB, CSIC - Ajuntament de Barcelona), Passeig del Migdia s/n, 08038, Barcelona, Catalonia, Spain.
| | - Airy Gras
- Institut Botànic de Barcelona (IBB, CSIC - Ajuntament de Barcelona), Passeig del Migdia s/n, 08038, Barcelona, Catalonia, Spain.
| | - Mario Ruz
- Laboratori de Botànica (UB), Unitat Associada Al CSIC, Facultat de Farmàcia i Ciències de l'Alimentació - Institut de Recerca de la Biodiversitat (IRBio), Universitat de Barcelona, Av. Joan XXIII 27-31, 08028, Barcelona, Catalonia, Spain.
| | - Joan Vallès
- Laboratori de Botànica (UB), Unitat Associada Al CSIC, Facultat de Farmàcia i Ciències de l'Alimentació - Institut de Recerca de la Biodiversitat (IRBio), Universitat de Barcelona, Av. Joan XXIII 27-31, 08028, Barcelona, Catalonia, Spain; Institut d'Estudis Catalans (IEC), Carrer del Carme, 47, 08001, Barcelona, Catalonia, Spain.
| | - Daniel Vitales
- Institut Botànic de Barcelona (IBB, CSIC - Ajuntament de Barcelona), Passeig del Migdia s/n, 08038, Barcelona, Catalonia, Spain; Laboratori de Botànica (UB), Unitat Associada Al CSIC, Facultat de Farmàcia i Ciències de l'Alimentació - Institut de Recerca de la Biodiversitat (IRBio), Universitat de Barcelona, Av. Joan XXIII 27-31, 08028, Barcelona, Catalonia, Spain.
| | - Teresa Garnatje
- Institut Botànic de Barcelona (IBB, CSIC - Ajuntament de Barcelona), Passeig del Migdia s/n, 08038, Barcelona, Catalonia, Spain.
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14
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Watts S, McElroy M, Migicovsky Z, Maassen H, van Velzen R, Myles S. Cannabis labelling is associated with genetic variation in terpene synthase genes. NATURE PLANTS 2021; 7:1330-1334. [PMID: 34650264 PMCID: PMC8516649 DOI: 10.1038/s41477-021-01003-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/13/2021] [Accepted: 08/03/2021] [Indexed: 05/17/2023]
Abstract
Analysis of over 100 Cannabis samples quantified for terpene and cannabinoid content and genotyped for over 100,000 single nucleotide polymorphisms indicated that Sativa- and Indica-labelled samples were genetically indistinct on a genome-wide scale. Instead, we found that Cannabis labelling was associated with variation in a small number of terpenes whose concentrations are controlled by genetic variation at tandem arrays of terpene synthase genes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sophie Watts
- Department of Plant, Food and Environmental Sciences, Dalhousie University, Truro, Nova Scotia, Canada
| | - Michel McElroy
- Department of Plant, Food and Environmental Sciences, Dalhousie University, Truro, Nova Scotia, Canada
| | - Zoë Migicovsky
- Department of Plant, Food and Environmental Sciences, Dalhousie University, Truro, Nova Scotia, Canada
| | - Hugo Maassen
- Bedrocan International, Veendam, the Netherlands
| | - Robin van Velzen
- Bedrocan International, Veendam, the Netherlands
- Biosystematics Group, Wageningen University, Wageningen, the Netherlands
| | - Sean Myles
- Department of Plant, Food and Environmental Sciences, Dalhousie University, Truro, Nova Scotia, Canada.
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15
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Matchett-Oates L, Braich S, Spangenberg GC, Rochfort S, Cogan NOI. In silico analysis enabling informed design for genome editing in medicinal cannabis; gene families and variant characterisation. PLoS One 2021; 16:e0257413. [PMID: 34551006 PMCID: PMC8457487 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0257413] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/07/2021] [Accepted: 08/31/2021] [Indexed: 11/19/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Cannabis has been used worldwide for centuries for industrial, recreational and medicinal use, however, to date no successful attempts at editing genes involved in cannabinoid biosynthesis have been reported. This study proposes and develops an in silico best practices approach for the design and implementation of genome editing technologies in cannabis to target all genes involved in cannabinoid biosynthesis. RESULTS A large dataset of reference genomes was accessed and mined to determine copy number variation and associated SNP variants for optimum target edit sites for genotype independent editing. Copy number variance and highly polymorphic gene sequences exist in the genome making genome editing using CRISPR, Zinc Fingers and TALENs technically difficult. Evaluation of allele or additional gene copies was determined through nucleotide and amino acid alignments with comparative sequence analysis performed. From determined gene copy number and presence of SNPs, multiple online CRISPR design tools were used to design sgRNA targeting every gene, accompanying allele and homologs throughout all involved pathways to create knockouts for further investigation. Universal sgRNA were designed for highly homologous sequences using MultiTargeter and visualised using Sequencher, creating unique sgRNA avoiding SNP and shared nucleotide locations targeting optimal edit sites. CONCLUSIONS Using this framework, the approach has wider applications to all plant species regardless of ploidy number or highly homologous gene sequences. SIGNIFICANCE STATEMENT Using this framework, a best-practice approach to genome editing is possible in all plant species, including cannabis, delivering a comprehensive in silico evaluation of the cannabinoid pathway diversity from a large set of whole genome sequences. Identification of SNP variants across all genes could improve genome editing potentially leading to novel applications across multiple disciplines, including agriculture and medicine.
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Affiliation(s)
- L. Matchett-Oates
- Agriculture Victoria, AgriBio, The Centre for AgriBioscience, Bundoora, Victoria, Australia
- School of Applied Systems Biology, La Trobe University, Bundoora, Victoria, Australia
| | - S. Braich
- Agriculture Victoria, AgriBio, The Centre for AgriBioscience, Bundoora, Victoria, Australia
- School of Applied Systems Biology, La Trobe University, Bundoora, Victoria, Australia
| | - G. C. Spangenberg
- Agriculture Victoria, AgriBio, The Centre for AgriBioscience, Bundoora, Victoria, Australia
- School of Applied Systems Biology, La Trobe University, Bundoora, Victoria, Australia
| | - S. Rochfort
- Agriculture Victoria, AgriBio, The Centre for AgriBioscience, Bundoora, Victoria, Australia
- School of Applied Systems Biology, La Trobe University, Bundoora, Victoria, Australia
| | - N. O. I. Cogan
- Agriculture Victoria, AgriBio, The Centre for AgriBioscience, Bundoora, Victoria, Australia
- School of Applied Systems Biology, La Trobe University, Bundoora, Victoria, Australia
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16
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Vergara D, Huscher EL, Keepers KG, Pisupati R, Schwabe AL, McGlaughlin ME, Kane NC. Genomic Evidence That Governmentally Produced Cannabis sativa Poorly Represents Genetic Variation Available in State Markets. FRONTIERS IN PLANT SCIENCE 2021; 12:668315. [PMID: 34594346 PMCID: PMC8476804 DOI: 10.3389/fpls.2021.668315] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/16/2021] [Accepted: 06/28/2021] [Indexed: 06/13/2023]
Abstract
The National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA) is the sole producer of Cannabis for research purposes in the United States, including medical investigation. Previous research established that cannabinoid profiles in the NIDA varieties lacked diversity and potency relative to the Cannabis produced commercially. Additionally, microsatellite marker analyses have established that the NIDA varieties are genetically divergent form varieties produced in the private legal market. Here, we analyzed the genomes of multiple Cannabis varieties from diverse lineages including two produced by NIDA, and we provide further support that NIDA's varieties differ from widely available medical, recreational, or industrial Cannabis. Furthermore, our results suggest that NIDA's varieties lack diversity in the single-copy portion of the genome, the maternally inherited genomes, the cannabinoid genes, and in the repetitive content of the genome. Therefore, results based on NIDA's varieties are not generalizable regarding the effects of Cannabis after consumption. For medical research to be relevant, material that is more widely used would have to be studied. Clearly, having research to date dominated by a single, non-representative source of Cannabis has hindered scientific investigation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Daniela Vergara
- Kane Laboratory, Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, University of Colorado Boulder, Boulder, CO, United States
| | - Ezra L. Huscher
- Kane Laboratory, Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, University of Colorado Boulder, Boulder, CO, United States
| | - Kyle G. Keepers
- Kane Laboratory, Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, University of Colorado Boulder, Boulder, CO, United States
| | - Rahul Pisupati
- Austrian Academy of Sciences, Vienna Biocenter, Gregor Mendel Institute, Vienna, Austria
| | - Anna L. Schwabe
- School of Biological Sciences, University of Northern Colorado, Greeley, CO, United States
| | | | - Nolan C. Kane
- Kane Laboratory, Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, University of Colorado Boulder, Boulder, CO, United States
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17
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Fulvio F, Paris R, Montanari M, Citti C, Cilento V, Bassolino L, Moschella A, Alberti I, Pecchioni N, Cannazza G, Mandolino G. Analysis of Sequence Variability and Transcriptional Profile of Cannabinoid synthase Genes in Cannabis sativa L. Chemotypes with a Focus on Cannabichromenic acid synthase. PLANTS (BASEL, SWITZERLAND) 2021; 10:1857. [PMID: 34579390 PMCID: PMC8466818 DOI: 10.3390/plants10091857] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/04/2021] [Revised: 09/03/2021] [Accepted: 09/06/2021] [Indexed: 02/03/2023]
Abstract
Cannabis sativa L. has been long cultivated for its narcotic potential due to the accumulation of tetrahydrocannabinolic acid (THCA) in female inflorescences, but nowadays its production for fiber, seeds, edible oil and bioactive compounds has spread throughout the world. However, some hemp varieties still accumulate traces of residual THCA close to the 0.20% limit set by European Union, despite the functional gene encoding for THCA synthase (THCAS) is lacking. Even if some hypotheses have been produced, studies are often in disagreement especially on the role of the cannabichromenic acid synthase (CBCAS). In this work a set of European Cannabis genotypes, representative of all chemotypes, were investigated from a chemical and molecular point of view. Highly specific primer pairs were developed to allow an accurate distinction of different cannabinoid synthases genes. In addition to their use as markers to detect the presence of CBCAS at genomic level, they allowed the analysis of transcriptional profiles in hemp or marijuana plants. While the high level of transcription of THCAS and cannabidiolic acid synthase (CBDAS) clearly reflects the chemical phenotype of the plants, the low but stable transcriptional level of CBCAS in all genotypes suggests that these genes are active and might contribute to the final amount of cannabinoids.
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Affiliation(s)
- Flavia Fulvio
- CREA—Research Centre for Cereal and Industrial Crops, Via di Corticella 133, 40128 Bologna, Italy; (F.F.); (M.M.); (V.C.); (L.B.); (A.M.); (G.M.)
- Department of Sciences of Agriculture, Food Natural Resources and Engineering, University of Foggia, Via Napoli 25, 71122 Foggia, Italy
| | - Roberta Paris
- CREA—Research Centre for Cereal and Industrial Crops, Via di Corticella 133, 40128 Bologna, Italy; (F.F.); (M.M.); (V.C.); (L.B.); (A.M.); (G.M.)
| | - Massimo Montanari
- CREA—Research Centre for Cereal and Industrial Crops, Via di Corticella 133, 40128 Bologna, Italy; (F.F.); (M.M.); (V.C.); (L.B.); (A.M.); (G.M.)
| | - Cinzia Citti
- CNR NANOTEC—Institute of Nanotechnology, Via Monteroni, 73100 Lecce, Italy; (C.C.); (G.C.)
- Department of Life Science, University of Modena and Reggio Emilia, Via G. Campi 103, 41125 Modena, Italy
| | - Vincenzo Cilento
- CREA—Research Centre for Cereal and Industrial Crops, Via di Corticella 133, 40128 Bologna, Italy; (F.F.); (M.M.); (V.C.); (L.B.); (A.M.); (G.M.)
| | - Laura Bassolino
- CREA—Research Centre for Cereal and Industrial Crops, Via di Corticella 133, 40128 Bologna, Italy; (F.F.); (M.M.); (V.C.); (L.B.); (A.M.); (G.M.)
| | - Anna Moschella
- CREA—Research Centre for Cereal and Industrial Crops, Via di Corticella 133, 40128 Bologna, Italy; (F.F.); (M.M.); (V.C.); (L.B.); (A.M.); (G.M.)
| | - Ilaria Alberti
- CREA—Research Centre for Cereal and Industrial Crops, Via G. Amendola 82, 45100 Rovigo, Italy;
| | - Nicola Pecchioni
- CREA—Research Centre for Cereal and Industrial Crops, S.S. 673 Km 25,200, 71122 Foggia, Italy;
| | - Giuseppe Cannazza
- CNR NANOTEC—Institute of Nanotechnology, Via Monteroni, 73100 Lecce, Italy; (C.C.); (G.C.)
- Department of Life Science, University of Modena and Reggio Emilia, Via G. Campi 103, 41125 Modena, Italy
| | - Giuseppe Mandolino
- CREA—Research Centre for Cereal and Industrial Crops, Via di Corticella 133, 40128 Bologna, Italy; (F.F.); (M.M.); (V.C.); (L.B.); (A.M.); (G.M.)
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18
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van Velzen R, Schranz ME. Origin and Evolution of the Cannabinoid Oxidocyclase Gene Family. Genome Biol Evol 2021; 13:evab130. [PMID: 34100927 PMCID: PMC8521752 DOI: 10.1093/gbe/evab130] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 06/04/2021] [Indexed: 12/21/2022] Open
Abstract
Cannabis is an ancient crop representing a rapidly increasing legal market, especially for medicinal purposes. Medicinal and psychoactive effects of Cannabis rely on specific terpenophenolic ligands named cannabinoids. Recent whole-genome sequencing efforts have uncovered variation in multiple genes encoding the final steps in cannabinoid biosynthesis. However, the origin, evolution, and phylogenetic relationships of these cannabinoid oxidocyclase genes remain unclear. To elucidate these aspects, we performed comparative genomic analyses of Cannabis, related genera within the Cannabaceae family, and selected outgroup species. Results show that cannabinoid oxidocyclase genes originated in the Cannabis lineage from within a larger gene expansion in the Cannabaceae family. Localization and divergence of oxidocyclase genes in the Cannabis genome revealed two main syntenic blocks, each comprising tandemly repeated cannabinoid oxidocyclase genes. By comparing these blocks with those in genomes from closely related species, we propose an evolutionary model for the origin, neofunctionalization, duplication, and diversification of cannabinoid oxidocycloase genes. Based on phylogenetic analyses, we propose a comprehensive classification of three main clades and seven subclades that are intended to aid unequivocal referencing and identification of cannabinoid oxidocyclase genes. Our data suggest that cannabinoid phenotype is primarily determined by the presence/absence of single-copy genes. Although wild populations of Cannabis are still unknown, increased sampling of landraces and wild/feral populations across its native geographic range is likely to uncover additional cannabinoid oxidocyclase sequence variants.
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Affiliation(s)
- Robin van Velzen
- Plant Sciences, Biosystematics Group, Wageningen University, Wageningen, The Netherlands
- Bedrocan International, Veendam, The Netherlands
| | - M Eric Schranz
- Plant Sciences, Biosystematics Group, Wageningen University, Wageningen, The Netherlands
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19
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Johnson MS, Wallace JG. Genomic and Chemical Diversity of Commercially Available High-CBD Industrial Hemp Accessions. Front Genet 2021; 12:682475. [PMID: 34306025 PMCID: PMC8293613 DOI: 10.3389/fgene.2021.682475] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/18/2021] [Accepted: 06/08/2021] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
High consumer demand for cannabidiol (CBD) has made high-CBD hemp (Cannabis sativa) an extremely high-value crop. However, high demand has resulted in the industry developing faster than the research, resulting in the sale of many hemp accessions with inconsistent performance and chemical profiles. These inconsistencies cause significant economic and legal problems for growers interested in producing high-CBD hemp. To determine the genetic and phenotypic consistency in available high-CBD hemp varieties, we obtained seed or clones from 22 different named accessions meant for commercial production. Genotypes (∼48,000 SNPs) and chemical profiles (% CBD and THC by dry weight) were determined for up to 8 plants per accession. Many accessions-including several with the same name-showed little consistency either genetically or chemically. Most seed-grown accessions also deviated significantly from their purported levels of CBD and THC based on the supplied certificates of analysis. Several also showed evidence of an active tetrahydrocannabinolic acid (THCa) synthase gene, leading to unacceptably high levels of THC in female flowers. We conclude that the current market for high-CBD hemp varieties is highly unreliable, making many purchases risky for growers. We suggest options for addressing these issues, such using unique names and developing seed and plant certification programs to ensure the availability of high-quality, verified planting materials.
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Affiliation(s)
- Matthew S. Johnson
- Institute of Plant Breeding, Genetics, and Genomics, University of Georgia, Athens, GA, United States
| | - Jason G. Wallace
- Institute of Plant Breeding, Genetics, and Genomics, University of Georgia, Athens, GA, United States
- Department of Crop and Soil Sciences, University of Georgia, Athens, GA, United States
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20
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Grassa CJ, Weiblen GD, Wenger JP, Dabney C, Poplawski SG, Timothy Motley S, Michael TP, Schwartz CJ. A new Cannabis genome assembly associates elevated cannabidiol (CBD) with hemp introgressed into marijuana. THE NEW PHYTOLOGIST 2021; 230:1665-1679. [PMID: 33521943 PMCID: PMC8248131 DOI: 10.1111/nph.17243] [Citation(s) in RCA: 58] [Impact Index Per Article: 19.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/31/2020] [Accepted: 01/18/2021] [Indexed: 05/20/2023]
Abstract
Demand for cannabidiol (CBD), the predominant cannabinoid in hemp (Cannabis sativa), has favored cultivars producing unprecedented quantities of CBD. We investigated the ancestry of a new cultivar and cannabinoid synthase genes in relation to cannabinoid inheritance. A nanopore-based assembly anchored to a high-resolution linkage map provided a chromosome-resolved genome for CBDRx, a potent CBD-type cultivar. We measured cannabinoid synthase expression by cDNA sequencing and conducted a population genetic analysis of diverse Cannabis accessions. Quantitative trait locus mapping of cannabinoids in a hemp × marijuana segregating population was also performed. Cannabinoid synthase paralogs are arranged in tandem arrays embedded in long terminal repeat retrotransposons on chromosome 7. Although CBDRx is predominantly of marijuana ancestry, the genome has cannabidiolic acid synthase (CBDAS) introgressed from hemp and lacks a complete sequence for tetrahydrocannabinolic acid synthase (THCAS). Three additional genomes, including one with complete THCAS, confirmed this genomic structure. Only cannabidiolic acid synthase (CBDAS) was expressed in CBD-type Cannabis, while both CBDAS and THCAS were expressed in a cultivar with an intermediate tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) : CBD ratio. Although variation among cannabinoid synthase loci might affect the THC : CBD ratio, variability among cultivars in overall cannabinoid content (potency) was also associated with other chromosomes.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - George D. Weiblen
- Department of Plant and Microbial BiologyUniversity of MinnesotaSaint PaulMN55108USA
| | - Jonathan P. Wenger
- Department of Plant and Microbial BiologyUniversity of MinnesotaSaint PaulMN55108USA
| | - Clemon Dabney
- Department of Plant and Microbial BiologyUniversity of MinnesotaSaint PaulMN55108USA
| | | | - S. Timothy Motley
- Department of InformaticsJ. Craig Venter InstituteLa JollaCA92037USA
| | - Todd P. Michael
- Department of InformaticsJ. Craig Venter InstituteLa JollaCA92037USA
- Present address:
Molecular and Cellular Biology LaboratorySalk Institute for Biological StudiesLa JollaCA92037USA
| | - C. J. Schwartz
- Sunrise Genetics Inc.Fort CollinsCO80525USA
- Present address:
Industrial Hemp Genetics LLCMadisonWI53705USA
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21
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Vergara D, Feathers C, Huscher EL, Holmes B, Haas JA, Kane NC. Widely assumed phenotypic associations in Cannabis sativa lack a shared genetic basis. PeerJ 2021; 9:e10672. [PMID: 33976953 PMCID: PMC8063869 DOI: 10.7717/peerj.10672] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/26/2020] [Accepted: 12/08/2020] [Indexed: 12/16/2022] Open
Abstract
The flowering plant Cannabis sativa, cultivated for centuries for multiple purposes, displays extensive variation in phenotypic traits in addition to its wide array of secondary metabolite production. Notably, Cannabis produces two well-known secondary-metabolite cannabinoids: cannabidiolic acid (CBDA) and delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinolic acid (THCA), which are the main products sought by consumers in the medical and recreational market. Cannabis has several suggested subspecies which have been shown to differ in chemistry, branching patterns, leaf morphology and other traits. In this study we obtained measurements related to phytochemistry, reproductive traits, growth architecture, and leaf morphology from 297 hybrid individuals from a cross between two diverse lineages. We explored correlations among these characteristics to inform our understanding of which traits may be causally associated. Many of the traits widely assumed to be strongly correlated did not show any relationship in this hybrid population. The current taxonomy and legal regulation within Cannabis is based on phenotypic and chemical characteristics. However, we find these traits are not associated when lineages are inter-crossed, which is a common breeding practice and forms the basis of most modern marijuana and hemp germplasms. Our results suggest naming conventions based on leaf morphology do not correspond to the chemical properties in plants with hybrid ancestry. Therefore, a new system for identifying variation within Cannabis is warranted that will provide reliable identifiers of the properties important for recreational and, especially, medical use.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Ezra L Huscher
- Ebio, University of Colorado at Boulder, Boulder, CO, USA
| | | | | | - Nolan C Kane
- Ebio, University of Colorado at Boulder, Boulder, CO, USA
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22
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Hurgobin B, Tamiru‐Oli M, Welling MT, Doblin MS, Bacic A, Whelan J, Lewsey MG. Recent advances in Cannabis sativa genomics research. THE NEW PHYTOLOGIST 2021; 230:73-89. [PMID: 33283274 PMCID: PMC7986631 DOI: 10.1111/nph.17140] [Citation(s) in RCA: 49] [Impact Index Per Article: 16.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/20/2020] [Accepted: 11/27/2020] [Indexed: 05/06/2023]
Abstract
Cannabis (Cannabis sativa L.) is one of the oldest cultivated plants purported to have unique medicinal properties. However, scientific research of cannabis has been restricted by the Single Convention on Narcotic Drugs of 1961, an international treaty that prohibits the production and supply of narcotic drugs except under license. Legislation governing cannabis cultivation for research, medicinal and even recreational purposes has been relaxed recently in certain jurisdictions. As a result, there is now potential to accelerate cultivar development of this multi-use and potentially medically useful plant species by application of modern genomics technologies. Whilst genomics has been pivotal to our understanding of the basic biology and molecular mechanisms controlling key traits in several crop species, much work is needed for cannabis. In this review we provide a comprehensive summary of key cannabis genomics resources and their applications. We also discuss prospective applications of existing and emerging genomics technologies for accelerating the genetic improvement of cannabis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bhavna Hurgobin
- La Trobe Institute for Agriculture and FoodDepartment of Animal, Plant and Soil SciencesSchool of Life SciencesLa Trobe UniversityAgriBio BuildingBundooraVIC3086Australia
- Australian Research Council Research Hub for Medicinal AgricultureLa Trobe UniversityAgriBio BuildingBundooraVIC3086Australia
| | - Muluneh Tamiru‐Oli
- La Trobe Institute for Agriculture and FoodDepartment of Animal, Plant and Soil SciencesSchool of Life SciencesLa Trobe UniversityAgriBio BuildingBundooraVIC3086Australia
- Australian Research Council Research Hub for Medicinal AgricultureLa Trobe UniversityAgriBio BuildingBundooraVIC3086Australia
| | - Matthew T. Welling
- La Trobe Institute for Agriculture and FoodDepartment of Animal, Plant and Soil SciencesSchool of Life SciencesLa Trobe UniversityAgriBio BuildingBundooraVIC3086Australia
- Australian Research Council Research Hub for Medicinal AgricultureLa Trobe UniversityAgriBio BuildingBundooraVIC3086Australia
| | - Monika S. Doblin
- La Trobe Institute for Agriculture and FoodDepartment of Animal, Plant and Soil SciencesSchool of Life SciencesLa Trobe UniversityAgriBio BuildingBundooraVIC3086Australia
- Australian Research Council Research Hub for Medicinal AgricultureLa Trobe UniversityAgriBio BuildingBundooraVIC3086Australia
| | - Antony Bacic
- La Trobe Institute for Agriculture and FoodDepartment of Animal, Plant and Soil SciencesSchool of Life SciencesLa Trobe UniversityAgriBio BuildingBundooraVIC3086Australia
- Australian Research Council Research Hub for Medicinal AgricultureLa Trobe UniversityAgriBio BuildingBundooraVIC3086Australia
| | - James Whelan
- La Trobe Institute for Agriculture and FoodDepartment of Animal, Plant and Soil SciencesSchool of Life SciencesLa Trobe UniversityAgriBio BuildingBundooraVIC3086Australia
- Australian Research Council Research Hub for Medicinal AgricultureLa Trobe UniversityAgriBio BuildingBundooraVIC3086Australia
- Australian Research Council Centre of Excellence for Plant Energy BiologyLa Trobe UniversityAgriBio BuildingBundooraVIC3086Australia
| | - Mathew G. Lewsey
- La Trobe Institute for Agriculture and FoodDepartment of Animal, Plant and Soil SciencesSchool of Life SciencesLa Trobe UniversityAgriBio BuildingBundooraVIC3086Australia
- Australian Research Council Research Hub for Medicinal AgricultureLa Trobe UniversityAgriBio BuildingBundooraVIC3086Australia
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23
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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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24
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Forlani G, Petrollino D. A comprehensive molecular approach to the detection of drug-type versus fiber-type hemp varieties. Forensic Sci Int Genet 2021; 52:102464. [PMID: 33461105 DOI: 10.1016/j.fsigen.2021.102464] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/10/2020] [Revised: 12/22/2020] [Accepted: 01/03/2021] [Indexed: 10/22/2022]
Abstract
The availability of molecular markers able to distinguish drug-type from fiber-type Cannabis sativa cultivars would allow fast and cheap analysis of any plant specimen, including seeds and leaves. Several approaches to this issue have been described, mainly using polymorphisms in the genes coding for tetrahydrocannabinol acid synthase or cannabidiolic acid synthase. Some studies reported sequencing of these genes from small groups of hemp varieties belonging to both chemotypes, showing the occurrence of specific DNA signatures. However, the effectiveness of the corresponding primers to discriminate among chemotypes has been validated on a limited number of cultivars, or not tested at all. Here we report a thorough in silico analysis of available gene sequences for both synthases, showing the existence of hypervariable regions at 3' and 5' ends. This notwithstanding, some possible signatures were identified, and 12 putatively specific primer pairs were designed and tested on 16 fiber-type and 11 drug-type varieties. In most cases inconsistent results were obtained, further strengthening the high genetic variability of these genes in hemp germplasm, yet some highly informative polymorphisms were identified. Potentiality and perspectives of this approach are discussed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Giuseppe Forlani
- Department of Life Science and Biotechnology, University of Ferrara, via L. Borsari 46, Ferrara, IT, 44121, Italy.
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25
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Singh A, Bilichak A, Kovalchuk I. The genetics of Cannabis-genomic variations of key synthases and their effect on cannabinoid content. Genome 2020; 64:490-501. [PMID: 33186070 DOI: 10.1139/gen-2020-0087] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/22/2022]
Abstract
Despite being a controversial crop, Cannabis sativa L. has a long history of cultivation throughout the world. Following recent legalization in Canada, Cannabis is emerging as an important plant for both medicinal and recreational purposes. Recent progress in genome sequencing of both cannabis and hemp varieties allow for systematic analysis of genes coding for enzymes involved in the cannabinoid biosynthesis pathway. Single-nucleotide polymorphisms in the coding regions of cannabinoid synthases play an important role in determining plant chemotype. Deep understanding of how these variants affect enzyme activity and accumulation of cannabinoids will allow breeding of novel cultivars with desirable cannabinoid profiles. Here we present a short overview of the major cannabinoid synthases and present the data on the analysis of their genetic variants and their effect on cannabinoid content using several in-house sequenced Cannabis cultivars.
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Affiliation(s)
- Aparna Singh
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Lethbridge, Lethbridge, AB T1K 3M4, Canada
| | - Andriy Bilichak
- Morden Research and Development Center, Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada, Morden, MB R6M 1Y5, Canada
| | - Igor Kovalchuk
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Lethbridge, Lethbridge, AB T1K 3M4, Canada
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26
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Vergara D, Gaudino R, Blank T, Keegan B. Modeling cannabinoids from a large-scale sample of Cannabis sativa chemotypes. PLoS One 2020; 15:e0236878. [PMID: 32870907 PMCID: PMC7462266 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0236878] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/28/2020] [Accepted: 07/15/2020] [Indexed: 01/17/2023] Open
Abstract
The widespread legalization of Cannabis has opened the industry to using contemporary analytical techniques for chemotype analysis. Chemotypic data has been collected on a large variety of oil profiles inherent to the cultivars that are commercially available. The unknown gene regulation and pharmacokinetics of dozens of cannabinoids offer opportunities of high interest in pharmacology research. Retailers in many medical and recreational jurisdictions are typically required to report chemical concentrations of at least some cannabinoids. Commercial cannabis laboratories have collected large chemotype datasets of diverse Cannabis cultivars. In this work a data set of 17,600 cultivars tested by Steep Hill Inc., is examined using machine learning techniques to interpolate missing chemotype observations and cluster cultivars into groups based on chemotype similarity. The results indicate cultivars cluster based on their chemotypes, and that some imputation methods work better than others at grouping these cultivars based on chemotypic identity. Due to the missing data and to the low signal to noise ratio for some less common cannabinoids, their behavior could not be accurately predicted. These findings have implications for characterizing complex interactions in cannabinoid biosynthesis and improving phenotypical classification of Cannabis cultivars.
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Affiliation(s)
- Daniela Vergara
- Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, University of Colorado, Boulder, Colorado, United States of America
| | - Reggie Gaudino
- Front Range Biosciences, Lafayette, CO, United States of America
| | - Thomas Blank
- Front Range Biosciences, Lafayette, CO, United States of America
| | - Brian Keegan
- Department of Information Science, University of Colorado Boulder, Boulder, Colorado, United States of America
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27
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Kovalchuk I, Pellino M, Rigault P, van Velzen R, Ebersbach J, Ashnest JR, Mau M, Schranz ME, Alcorn J, Laprairie RB, McKay JK, Burbridge C, Schneider D, Vergara D, Kane NC, Sharbel TF. The Genomics of Cannabis and Its Close Relatives. ANNUAL REVIEW OF PLANT BIOLOGY 2020; 71:713-739. [PMID: 32155342 DOI: 10.1146/annurev-arplant-081519-040203] [Citation(s) in RCA: 56] [Impact Index Per Article: 14.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/22/2023]
Abstract
Cannabis sativa L. is an important yet controversial plant with a long history of recreational, medicinal, industrial, and agricultural use, and together with its sister genus Humulus, it represents a group of plants with a myriad of academic, agricultural, pharmaceutical, industrial, and social interests. We have performed a meta-analysis of pooled published genomics data, andwe present a comprehensive literature review on the evolutionary history of Cannabis and Humulus, including medicinal and industrial applications. We demonstrate that current Cannabis genome assemblies are incomplete, with ∼10% missing, 10-25% unmapped, and 45S and 5S ribosomal DNA clusters as well as centromeres/satellite sequences not represented. These assemblies are also ordered at a low resolution, and their consensus quality clouds the accurate annotation of complete, partial, and pseudogenized gene copies. Considering the importance of genomics in the development of any crop, this analysis underlines the need for a coordinated effort to quantify the genetic and biochemical diversity of this species.
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Affiliation(s)
- I Kovalchuk
- Department of Biology, University of Lethbridge, Lethbridge, Alberta T1K 3M4, Canada
| | - M Pellino
- College of Agriculture and Bioresources, University of Saskatchewan, Saskatoon, Saskatchewan S7N 4J8, Canada;
| | - P Rigault
- Gydle Inc., Québec, Québec G1S 1E7, Canada
- Center for Organismal Studies (COS), University of Heidelberg, 69120 Heidelberg, Germany
| | - R van Velzen
- Biosystematics Group, Wageningen University, 6703 BD Wageningen, The Netherlands
- Bedrocan International, 9640 CA Veendam, The Netherlands
| | - J Ebersbach
- Saskatoon Research and Development Centre, Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada, Saskatoon, Saskatchewan S7N 0X2, Canada
| | - J R Ashnest
- College of Agriculture and Bioresources, University of Saskatchewan, Saskatoon, Saskatchewan S7N 4J8, Canada;
| | - M Mau
- College of Agriculture and Bioresources, University of Saskatchewan, Saskatoon, Saskatchewan S7N 4J8, Canada;
| | - M E Schranz
- Biosystematics Group, Wageningen University, 6703 BD Wageningen, The Netherlands
| | - J Alcorn
- College of Pharmacy and Nutrition, University of Saskatchewan, Saskatoon, Saskatchewan S7N 5E5, Canada
| | - R B Laprairie
- College of Pharmacy and Nutrition, University of Saskatchewan, Saskatoon, Saskatchewan S7N 5E5, Canada
- Department of Pharmacology, College of Medicine, Dalhousie University, Halifax, Nova Scotia B3H 4R2, Canada
| | - J K McKay
- College of Agricultural Sciences, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, Colorado 80523, USA
| | - C Burbridge
- School of Environment and Sustainability, University of Saskatchewan, Saskatoon, Saskatchewan S7N 5E5, Canada
| | - D Schneider
- School of Environment and Sustainability, University of Saskatchewan, Saskatoon, Saskatchewan S7N 5E5, Canada
| | - D Vergara
- Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, University of Colorado, Boulder, Colorado 80309, USA
| | - N C Kane
- Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, University of Colorado, Boulder, Colorado 80309, USA
| | - T F Sharbel
- College of Agriculture and Bioresources, University of Saskatchewan, Saskatoon, Saskatchewan S7N 4J8, Canada;
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