Genetic diversity, population structure, and cannabinoid variation in feral Cannabis sativa germplasm from the United States

Abstract Cannabis sativa is one of the earliest plants to be domesticated for fiber, food and medicine. Seed from Cannabis grown for industrial purposes during the 18th through 20th centuries have escaped production and established feralized populations across the United States. To maximize the pote...

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Main Authors: Ademola Aina, Jonathan P. Wenger, Eliot Stanton, Chandrani Gon Majumdar, Mahmoud ElSohly, George D. Weiblen, Shelby Ellison
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Nature Portfolio 2025-07-01
Series:Scientific Reports
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Online Access:https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-025-07912-8
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author Ademola Aina
Jonathan P. Wenger
Eliot Stanton
Chandrani Gon Majumdar
Mahmoud ElSohly
George D. Weiblen
Shelby Ellison
author_facet Ademola Aina
Jonathan P. Wenger
Eliot Stanton
Chandrani Gon Majumdar
Mahmoud ElSohly
George D. Weiblen
Shelby Ellison
author_sort Ademola Aina
collection DOAJ
description Abstract Cannabis sativa is one of the earliest plants to be domesticated for fiber, food and medicine. Seed from Cannabis grown for industrial purposes during the 18th through 20th centuries have escaped production and established feralized populations across the United States. To maximize the potential of feral Cannabis germplasm, determining the genetic structure and cannabinoid profile is crucial for selection and breeding of new compliant regionally adapted hemp cultivars. To resolve this, a collection of feral Cannabis, comprising 760 plants across twelve US states were sequenced using Genotyping-by-Sequencings (GBS), genotyped at the cannabinoid synthase (CBDAS) gene, and subject to gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS) to assess cannabinoid profiles. Clustering analyses by ADMIXTURE and Principal Component Analysis (PCA) stratified the germplasm into five clusters (Mississippi-River, West North Central-b, West North Central-a, New York, and Indiana). The cannabinoid genotyping assay resolved the feral collections into Type I - B2/B2 (6%), Type II - B2/B1 (15%), and Type III - B1/B1 (78%). Total cannabinoid content ranged from 0.21 to 4.73%. The assessment of genetic diversity, population structure, and cannabinoid profile of the US feral Cannabis collection provides critical information and germplasm resources to develop new and improve existing hemp cultivars.
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spelling doaj-art-0a7595b6e2c94571a3c314360aba9f052025-08-20T03:03:40ZengNature PortfolioScientific Reports2045-23222025-07-0115111310.1038/s41598-025-07912-8Genetic diversity, population structure, and cannabinoid variation in feral Cannabis sativa germplasm from the United StatesAdemola Aina0Jonathan P. Wenger1Eliot Stanton2Chandrani Gon Majumdar3Mahmoud ElSohly4George D. Weiblen5Shelby Ellison6Department of Plant and Agroecosystem Sciences, University of WisconsinDepartment of Plant and Microbial Biology, University of MinnesotaBiotechnology Center, University of WisconsinNational Center for Natural Products Research, University of MississippiNational Center for Natural Products Research, University of MississippiDepartment of Plant and Microbial Biology, University of MinnesotaDepartment of Plant and Agroecosystem Sciences, University of WisconsinAbstract Cannabis sativa is one of the earliest plants to be domesticated for fiber, food and medicine. Seed from Cannabis grown for industrial purposes during the 18th through 20th centuries have escaped production and established feralized populations across the United States. To maximize the potential of feral Cannabis germplasm, determining the genetic structure and cannabinoid profile is crucial for selection and breeding of new compliant regionally adapted hemp cultivars. To resolve this, a collection of feral Cannabis, comprising 760 plants across twelve US states were sequenced using Genotyping-by-Sequencings (GBS), genotyped at the cannabinoid synthase (CBDAS) gene, and subject to gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS) to assess cannabinoid profiles. Clustering analyses by ADMIXTURE and Principal Component Analysis (PCA) stratified the germplasm into five clusters (Mississippi-River, West North Central-b, West North Central-a, New York, and Indiana). The cannabinoid genotyping assay resolved the feral collections into Type I - B2/B2 (6%), Type II - B2/B1 (15%), and Type III - B1/B1 (78%). Total cannabinoid content ranged from 0.21 to 4.73%. The assessment of genetic diversity, population structure, and cannabinoid profile of the US feral Cannabis collection provides critical information and germplasm resources to develop new and improve existing hemp cultivars.https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-025-07912-8CannabisCannabinoidsGenetic diversityFeralConservationGermplasm
spellingShingle Ademola Aina
Jonathan P. Wenger
Eliot Stanton
Chandrani Gon Majumdar
Mahmoud ElSohly
George D. Weiblen
Shelby Ellison
Genetic diversity, population structure, and cannabinoid variation in feral Cannabis sativa germplasm from the United States
Scientific Reports
Cannabis
Cannabinoids
Genetic diversity
Feral
Conservation
Germplasm
title Genetic diversity, population structure, and cannabinoid variation in feral Cannabis sativa germplasm from the United States
title_full Genetic diversity, population structure, and cannabinoid variation in feral Cannabis sativa germplasm from the United States
title_fullStr Genetic diversity, population structure, and cannabinoid variation in feral Cannabis sativa germplasm from the United States
title_full_unstemmed Genetic diversity, population structure, and cannabinoid variation in feral Cannabis sativa germplasm from the United States
title_short Genetic diversity, population structure, and cannabinoid variation in feral Cannabis sativa germplasm from the United States
title_sort genetic diversity population structure and cannabinoid variation in feral cannabis sativa germplasm from the united states
topic Cannabis
Cannabinoids
Genetic diversity
Feral
Conservation
Germplasm
url https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-025-07912-8
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