Characteristics of the Diploid, Triploid, and Tetraploid Versions of a Cannabigerol-Dominant F1 Hybrid Industrial Hemp Cultivar, Cannabis sativa 'Stem Cell CBG'.

Seth Crawford,Andrea R Garfinkel,Thecla A Schoenenberger,Brendan M Rojas,Matthew Otten,Hsuan Chen,Eric Crawford

doi:10.3390/genes12060923

Seth Crawford, Andrea R Garfinkel + Show 5 more

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https://doi.org/10.3390/genes12060923

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Abstract

Hemp (Cannabis sativa L.) has recently become an important crop due to the growing market demands for products containing cannabinoids. Unintended cross-pollination of C. sativa crops is one of the most important threats to cannabinoid production and has been shown to reduce cannabinoid yield. Ploidy manipulation has been used in other crops to improve agronomic traits and reduce fertility; however, little is known about the performance of C. sativa polyploids. In this study, colchicine was applied to two proprietary, inbred diploid C. sativa inbred lines, ‘TS1-3’ and ‘P163’, to produce the tetraploids ‘TS1-3 (4x)’ and ‘P163 (4x)’. The diploid, triploid, and tetraploid F1 hybrids from ‘TS1-3’ × ‘P163’, ‘TS1-3 (4x)’ × ‘P163’, and ‘TS1-3 (4x)’ × ‘P163 (4x)’ were produced to test their fertilities, crossing compatibilities, and yields. The results indicated a reduction in fertility in the triploids and the tetraploids, relative to their diploid counterparts. When triploids were used as females, seed yields were less than 2% compared to when diploids were used as females; thus, triploids were determined to be female infertile. The triploids resulting from the crosses made herein displayed increases in biomass and inflorescence weight compared to the diploids created from the same parents in a field setting. Statistical increases in cannabinoid concentrations were not observed. Lastly, asymmetric crossing compatibility was observed between the diploids and the tetraploids of the genotypes tested. The results demonstrate the potential benefits of triploid C. sativa cultivars in commercial agriculture.

Highlights

IntroductionCannabis sativa L. is an annual row crop grown for protein, oil-rich grain, multiple industrial usage fibers, and for the secondary metabolites produced by the plant (referred to as “cannabinoids”) for medicinal and recreational use [1,2]
Introduction published maps and institutional affilCannabis sativa L. is an annual row crop grown for protein, oil-rich grain, multiple industrial usage fibers, and for the secondary metabolites produced by the plant for medicinal and recreational use [1,2]
Fertility was defined in this experiment based on the average seed count and the number of viable seeds from each combination of pollinators

Summary

Introduction

Cannabis sativa L. is an annual row crop grown for protein, oil-rich grain, multiple industrial usage fibers, and for the secondary metabolites produced by the plant (referred to as “cannabinoids”) for medicinal and recreational use [1,2]. C. sativa production, both male and female plants are grown and valued, but only female plants are desired for the medicinal and recreational cultivation of cannabinoids [3], which are produced at high concentrations in the glandular trichomes located on the bracts of female flowers [5]. Avoiding pollination of female flowers during the production of C. sativa for cannabinoids is a priority for growers of this crop, as pollination has been shown to reduce essential oil yield by more than 55% [6].

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