Planta Med 2014; 80 - PD128
DOI: 10.1055/s-0034-1382549

Cannabis micropropagation – Applications and updates

H Lata 1, S Chandra 1, IA Khan 1, 2, MA ElSohly 1, 3
  • 1National Center for Natural Product Research, Research Institute of Pharmaceutical Sciences, School of Pharmacy, The University of Mississippi, MS 38677, USA
  • 2Department of Pharmacognosy, School of Pharmacy, The University of Mississippi, MS 38677, USA
  • 3Department of Pharmaceutics, School of Pharmacy, The University of Mississippi, University, MS 38677, USA

Cannabis sativa L. is one of the oldest plants yielding fiber, food and medicine. This species is a natural source of Δ9-Tetrahydrocannabinol 9-THC) that has a tremendous therapeutic value and therefore, of high commercial interest in the pharmaceutical market. Vegetative propagation under indoor growing facilities is currently being used for conservation and maintenance of the genetic integrity of the elite clones. However, multiplication by this method is limited based on the availability and growth of screened mother plants. Micropropagation of cannabis using tissue culture techniques can be employed as an alternative to the conventional method of propagation and can play a vital role in the rapid multiplication, development of novel germplasm and genetic modification for enhanced cannabinoid production. Recent research on in vitro propagation of C. sativa has resulted in the development of protocols through direct organogenesis, indirect organogenesis and synthetic seed technology. This report provides an overview of recent developments, their current applications and the challenges that remain in micropropagation of C. sativa.