Planta Med 2010; 76(1): 97-100
DOI: 10.1055/s-0029-1185945
Biochemistry, Molecular Biology and Biotechnology
Letters
© Georg Thieme Verlag KG Stuttgart · New York

Assessment of the Genetic Stability of Micropropagated Plants of Cannabis sativa by ISSR Markers

Hemant Lata1 , Suman Chandra1 , Natascha Techen1 , Ikhlas A. Khan1 , 2 , Mahmoud A. ElSohly1 , 3
  • 1National Center for Natural Products Research, School of Pharmacy, The University of Mississippi, University, MS, USA
  • 2Department of Pharmacognosy, School of Pharmacy, The University of Mississippi, University, MS, USA
  • 3Department of Pharmaceutics, School of Pharmacy, The University of Mississippi, University, MS, USA
Further Information

Publication History

received April 27, 2009 revised May 29, 2009

accepted June 12, 2009

Publication Date:
27 July 2009 (online)

Abstract

Inter-simple sequence repeat (ISSR) markers were used to evaluate the genetic stability of the micropropagated plants of Cannabis sativa over 30 passages in culture and hardening in soil for 8 months. A total of 15 ISSR primers resulted in 115 distinct and reproducible bands. All the ISSR profiles from micropropagated plants were monomorphic and comparable to mother plants, confirming the genetic stability among clones and mother plants. Chemical analysis of cannabinoids, using gas chromatography/flame ionization detection (GC/FID), was done to further confirm whether the qualitative and quantitative differences in the major secondary metabolites exist between the mother plant and micropropagated plants. Six major cannabinoids – Δ 9-THC, THCV, CBD, CBC, CBG, and CBN – were identified and compared with the mother plant. Our results clearly showed a similar cannabinoid profile and insignificant differences in THC content between the two types of plants. These results suggest that the micropropagation protocol developed by us for rapid in vitro multiplication is appropriate and applicable for clonal mass propagation of C. sativa.

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Hemant Lata

National Center for Natural Products Research
School of Pharmacy
The University of Mississippi

University, MS 38677

USA

Phone: + 1 66 29 15 59 28

Fax: + 1 66 29 15 55 87

Email: hlata@olemiss.edu

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