Chapter 19
Assessing Genetic Diversity inCannabis
sativaUsing Molecular Approaches
Zamir K. Punja, Gina Rodriguez and Sarah Chen
Abstract Cannabis sativaL. represents plants cultivated for their psychoactive
and medicinal properties (marijuana) or as a source offibre, seed and oil (hemp).
Breeding and selection efforts have produced marijuana genotypes (strains) with a
range of levels of the cannabinoidD^9 -tetrahydrocannabinolic acid (THCA) and
other non-psychoactive cannabinoids, e.g. cannabidiolic acid (CBDA). Hemp lines
have been bred for highfibre content and seed production and have low/no THCA.
There are currently hundreds of marijuana strains which differ in THCA:CBDA
ratios, growth characteristics, morphological features, THCA and CBDA contents,
disease resistance, as well as overall medicinal value. The extent of genetic
diversity among these marijuana strains, as well as between marijuana and hemp,
has been studied using a range of molecular approaches. The results from these
studies have demonstrated that considerable genetic diversity exists among mari-
juana as well as hemp strains. Using ISSR markers, we have shown that distinct
DNA banding patterns can allow for the initial discrimination between many of the
strains tested, and provide an insight into the possible genetic relationships among
strains. Some strains, e.g.‘Jack’, ‘Super Sour Skunk’, ‘Jilly Bean’, exhibited
unique patterns that can be used to develop strain-specific DNAfingerprints. In
addition, a number of“landraces”and strains originating from remote geographic
locations, showed unique and distinct ISSR patterns and morphologies. A very high
degree of genetic diversity was exhibited among the strains studied. Additional
molecular studies, including DNA sequencing approaches, should provide more
insight into the genetic relationships that exist within strains of a complex plant
species and could augment future breeding efforts for genetic improvement of
C. sativa.
Z.K. Punja (&)G. RodriguezS. Chen
Department of Biological Sciences, Simon Fraser University,
Burnaby, BC V5A 1S6, Canada
e-mail: [email protected]
G. Rodriguez
Agrima Botanicals, 260-22529 Lougheed Hwy,
Maple Ridge, BC V2X 0T5, Canada
©Springer International Publishing AG 2017
S. Chandra et al. (eds.), Cannabis sativaL. - Botany and Biotechnology,
DOI 10.1007/978-3-319-54564-6_19
395