Cannabis sativa: Botany, Cross Pollination and Plant Breeding Problems

Abstract

This review paper highlights about the Cannabis botany, problems of cross pollination, lack of Germplasm collection and absence of Genebank facilities have been discussed. Cannabis is a dioecious species, meaning that male and female flowers are borne on separate plants. The risk of cross-pollination in Cannabis is one of the unique major challenge in Cannabis industry. More research can be conducted to assess the risk of cross-pollination in Cannabis and policy should be created to mitigate that risk. Cannabis research work remains years behind than other crops because of the long legacy of prohibition and stigmatization. However, lack of public germplasm repositories remains an unresolved problem in the Cannabis industry. Therefore, accessible germplasm resources are crucial for long-term economic viability, preserving genetic diversity, breeding, innovation, and long-term sustainability of the Cannabis crop. Germplasm accessions are the building blocks for breeding of new cultivars. However, there are no public seed or Clonal gene banks for Medical Cannabis sativa (marijuana or drug type). On the other hand there are some public hemp collections. Despite its economic, medicinal, and societal importance, Medical Cannabis sativa (marijuana or drug type) is missing from the list of available species in public Genebanks and only exist as private collections. Most of the Cannabis varieties in the market today are hybrids (700 hybrid strains) with both Cannabis sativa and Cannabis indica genetics. Hence there should be a public Cannabis Genebanks to play a fuller and more effective role in conservation, sustainable use, and exchange of Cannabis genetic resources.