Features of populations of hemp varieties with different composition of cannabinoid compounds

Abstract

Aim. To study the biological features of populations of hemp varieties with the absence of narcotic activity – tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) not higher than 0.08 %, but with the presence of non-psychoactive components of cannabinoids: cannabidiol (CBD) and cannabichromene (CBC); cannabigerol (CBG); CBG and CBD. To identify breeding prospects for increasing the content of cannabinoids that have therapeutic properties. Methods. Samples of elite plants were analyzed for cannabinoid content by gas-liquid chromatography (GC Agilent Technologies HP 6890, Series Hewlett Packard). Results. The limits of variation of the population variability of the sign of CBD content of the Medana variety are from 0.0253 to 3.3469 %, 75 % of the plants of which contain CBD in the range of 1.0-2.2 %. Studies of the Vik 2020 hybrid population confirmed a high correlation between CBD and THC and the absence of a relationship between CBD and CBG, THC and CBG. More than 11 % of plants in the population contain CBG from 3.5849 to 4.6207 %. There are no correlations between CBD and CBG, CBD and THC in these plants. The presence of such plants indicates the possibility of further increasing the content of СBG to 8 % and above, without exceeding the THC limit in our country (0.08 %). Conclusions. Conducted research has proven that with the current permissible level of THC, the content of CBD can be increased only to 2.5-3.0 % (Medana variety) through purposeful selection. The hybrid Vik 2020 is especially valuable, because in its population unique plants with the presence of several cannabinoid compounds with a THC content of no more than 0.08 % were found. The obtained valuable breeding material of the Medana variety and the Vik 2020 hybrid is a donor for its inclusion in hybridization and further multi-vector selection in the direction of increasing of the content of CBD, CBC and CBG with the absence of THC.