A comprehensive review of cannabis research published in Horticultural Research provides insights into the historical use of the plant, trichome development, and synthetic biology of cannabinoids. The review highlights critical points into the mechanisms of cannabinoid biosynthesis that can lead to new potential medicinal cannabis resources. It also examined the development and utilization of new cannabis cultivars or strains.
The review examined the regulatory mechanism of cannabinoid biosynthesis and secretory glandular trichomes (GTs). The review showed that sequencing technologies can demonstrate how 3D genome architecture and epigenomes for trichomes, single-cell transcriptomes, and metabolomes of different tissues can act as crucial genetic influencing cannabinoid biosynthesis regulation and secretory GT stimulation.
These technological advances can lead to more precise and efficient molecular breeding practices. For example, sequencing technologies are effective for investigating the relationship between particular enzymes affecting cannabinoid biosynthesis and a cannabis strain’s THC:CBD (tetrahydrocannabinol and cannabidiol ratio) and cannabinoid content.
The research team believes that a cannabis genetic linking map using molecular marker technology can lead to the development of molecular markers that can determine effective cannabis breeding practices.
The review also analyzed factors shaping efficient green bioproduction of cannabinoids. The research team’s analysis indicated a continued need to investigate metabolic bottlenecks in cannabinoid biosynthetic pathways within chassis cells. This research can enhance the overall efficiency and yield of cannabinoid production. The review showed that site-directed mutations of crucial enzymes in cannabinoid biosynthesis could increase the yields in chassis cells.
The review indicated that a robust model research system for medicinal cannabis plants provides a deeper understanding of the development of secretory GTs. The researchers constructed a schematic to describe the cannabis growth cycle and a corresponding biotechnological timeline. The review emphasized how genetic improvement of cannabis can lead to new cultivars with specific medicinal traits.
Source: Horticultural Research
