Cannabis sativa: Polyploidization - Triploid and Tetraploid Production

Abstract

Cannabis sativa is known for the source of therapeutic compounds, gaining great importance since restrictions on its growth and use are gradually reduced throughout the world. Unintended cross-pollination of Cannabis sativa crops is one of the most important threats to cannabinoid production. Therefore, avoiding pollination of female flowers during the production of Cannabis sativa for phytocannabinoids is a priority for growers of this crop, as pollination has been shown to reduce final yield of phytocannabinoids. Polyploid plants possess three or more sets of homologous chromosomes and are sterile. Ploidy manipulation has been used in other crops to improve agronomic traits, reduce fertility and produce sterile plants. A promising approach for cannabis breeding involves the process of polyploidization, in which the number of copies of each chromosome is increased. Polyploidization not only causes seedlessness but also brings other physiological and morphological changes to plants, including the plant architecture. Triploid plants are usually both male and female sterile and seeds are not viable or not present. Seedlessness is a highly desirable characteristic for consumers. Polyploid plants often exhibit altered traits, such as larger cell sizes, increased biomass, and changed morphology, which can have significant implications for cannabis industries. Polyploid cannabis plants offer a host of benefits, and they may help growers to overcome the fertilization issue when it comes to cultivating cannabis on a large scale. The strong polyploidy inducing agents in plants are either chemical (Colchicine, Oryzalin, Caffeine, Trifuralin, or phosphoric amides) or gaseous i.e. Nitrous oxide. Polyploid cannabis could become another option for commercial and small-scale growers looking to produce seedless weed. The research lays important groundwork for the development of improved cannabis strains and novel germplasm for breeding efforts.