Challenges in Cannabis sativa: Breeding and Secondary Metabolite Synthesis
A special issue of International Journal of Plant Biology (ISSN 2037-0164). This special issue belongs to the section "Plant Biochemistry and Genetics".
Deadline for manuscript submissions: 30 June 2025 | Viewed by 1031
Special Issue Editor
Interests: plant biotechnology; plant reproduction; plant genetics; plant breeding
Special Issue Information
Dear Colleagues,
The synthesis of cannabinoids and terpenes, and its use in medicinal applications, affects the medicinal and aromatic properties of plants and is influenced by genetic and environmental factors. Ensuring a consistent metabolite profile is crucial for pharmaceutical applications but remains difficult due to environmental variability and complex metabolic networks. Cannabis sativa faces significant challenges related to genetic improvement, the synthesis of secondary metabolites, and commercial regulation, limiting its applications. One major obstacle is the limited understanding of its complex genetic architecture. Breeding programs aim to enhance traits such as the cannabinoid content, pest resistance, and environmental adaptability. However, its genetic variability is poorly characterized due to historical legal restrictions, complicating the development of elite cultivars. Molecular tools such as genomic selection and CRISPR-based technologies remain in their early stages, hindered by regulatory and technical barriers. Addressing these challenges requires a multidisciplinary approach, including the use of high-quality genomic sequencing to understand genetic diversity and identify the genes associated with valuable traits. Molecular breeding tools such as genomic selection, marker-assisted selection, and CRISPR-Cas9 should be implemented alongside the establishment of comprehensive germplasm banks to ensure diverse resources for breeding. Detailed studies on biosynthetic pathways should focus on the identification of key enzymes and regulatory elements, while synthetic biology tools could be employed to engineer microbial systems for the scalable production of cannabinoids and terpenes. Advanced cultivation techniques, such as precision agriculture and indoor farming, could minimize environmental variability and standardize metabolite profiles. Alternative methods, such as plant cell cultures or hairy root systems, could also aid in producing valuable metabolites. This Special Issue aims to collect original articles and reviews that provide molecular insights regarding endocannabinoid (and terpenes) systems and the impact of physiological and pathological stresses on the production of secondary metabolites in medical cannabis, contributing to breeding and translational research via the application of preclinical and clinical data.
Dr. Mariana Quiroga
Guest Editor
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Keywords
- cannabis genetics
- secondary metabolites
- molecular breeding
- endocannabinoid system
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