A One-Step Grafting Methodology Can Adjust Stem Morphology and Increase THCA Yield in Medicinal Cannabis
The standard two-step methods for grafting horticultural crops involve cultivating the rootstock for a period of time and then connecting the scion. Medicinal Cannabis differs from most annual horticultural crops because it is usually clonally propagated from cuttings. We developed a grafting method...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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MDPI AG
2022-03-01
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| Series: | Agronomy |
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| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2073-4395/12/4/852 |
| _version_ | 1797437292870107136 |
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| author | Sarah Jane Purdy Amitha K. Hewavitharana Razlin Azman Halimi Nelson Joel Magner Tyson James Peterswald Amy Trebilco Tobias Kretzschmar Deborah Hailstones |
| author_facet | Sarah Jane Purdy Amitha K. Hewavitharana Razlin Azman Halimi Nelson Joel Magner Tyson James Peterswald Amy Trebilco Tobias Kretzschmar Deborah Hailstones |
| author_sort | Sarah Jane Purdy |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | The standard two-step methods for grafting horticultural crops involve cultivating the rootstock for a period of time and then connecting the scion. Medicinal Cannabis differs from most annual horticultural crops because it is usually clonally propagated from cuttings. We developed a grafting methodology specifically for medicinal Cannabis, involving a single step, in which a freshly cut scion is grafted to a freshly cut donor stem that will become the rootstock. This study also aimed to uncover a potential role for roots in influencing cannabinoid content. Two varieties with desirable attributes but cultivation limitations were selected to act as scions. The first, “CBD1” was a high CBDA accumulating variety with low biomass yield, and the second, “THC2”, was a high yielding, high THCA accumulating line with inconsistent root development during cloning. Two candidate rootstocks, “THC9r” and “THC8r”, were identified; both were high THCA, low CBDA varieties. Biomass yields in the THC2 scions grafted to THC9 rootstocks (THC9r_2s) were 20% higher than in the non-grafted THC2 plants. In CBD1 grafted plants, the concentrations of CBDA and some minor cannabinoids were significantly different to non-grafted CBD1, but biomass yields were lower. There was a trend towards a higher concentration of THCA in THC9r_2s plants, and when combined with the increased biomass, yield of THCA was increased from 8 g Plant<sup>−1</sup> to 13 g Plant<sup>−1</sup>. Our results present a new grafting method for medicinal Cannabis that improved yield in THC2 and required no additional cultivation time. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-09T11:16:46Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-4ab4fc84075f4b08bc76bfad17e75741 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2073-4395 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-09T11:16:46Z |
| publishDate | 2022-03-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Agronomy |
| spelling | doaj.art-4ab4fc84075f4b08bc76bfad17e757412023-12-01T00:27:02ZengMDPI AGAgronomy2073-43952022-03-0112485210.3390/agronomy12040852A One-Step Grafting Methodology Can Adjust Stem Morphology and Increase THCA Yield in Medicinal CannabisSarah Jane Purdy0Amitha K. Hewavitharana1Razlin Azman Halimi2Nelson Joel Magner3Tyson James Peterswald4Amy Trebilco5Tobias Kretzschmar6Deborah Hailstones7New South Wales Department of Primary Industries, 105 Prince Street, Orange, NSW 2800, AustraliaSouthern Cross Plant Science, Southern Cross University, Military Rd, East Lismore, NSW 2480, AustraliaSouthern Cross Plant Science, Southern Cross University, Military Rd, East Lismore, NSW 2480, AustraliaNew South Wales Department of Primary Industries, 105 Prince Street, Orange, NSW 2800, AustraliaNew South Wales Department of Primary Industries, 105 Prince Street, Orange, NSW 2800, AustraliaNew South Wales Department of Primary Industries, 105 Prince Street, Orange, NSW 2800, AustraliaSouthern Cross Plant Science, Southern Cross University, Military Rd, East Lismore, NSW 2480, AustraliaNew South Wales Department of Primary Industries, Elizabeth Macarthur Agricultural Institute, Woodbridge Rd, Menangle, NSW 2568, AustraliaThe standard two-step methods for grafting horticultural crops involve cultivating the rootstock for a period of time and then connecting the scion. Medicinal Cannabis differs from most annual horticultural crops because it is usually clonally propagated from cuttings. We developed a grafting methodology specifically for medicinal Cannabis, involving a single step, in which a freshly cut scion is grafted to a freshly cut donor stem that will become the rootstock. This study also aimed to uncover a potential role for roots in influencing cannabinoid content. Two varieties with desirable attributes but cultivation limitations were selected to act as scions. The first, “CBD1” was a high CBDA accumulating variety with low biomass yield, and the second, “THC2”, was a high yielding, high THCA accumulating line with inconsistent root development during cloning. Two candidate rootstocks, “THC9r” and “THC8r”, were identified; both were high THCA, low CBDA varieties. Biomass yields in the THC2 scions grafted to THC9 rootstocks (THC9r_2s) were 20% higher than in the non-grafted THC2 plants. In CBD1 grafted plants, the concentrations of CBDA and some minor cannabinoids were significantly different to non-grafted CBD1, but biomass yields were lower. There was a trend towards a higher concentration of THCA in THC9r_2s plants, and when combined with the increased biomass, yield of THCA was increased from 8 g Plant<sup>−1</sup> to 13 g Plant<sup>−1</sup>. Our results present a new grafting method for medicinal Cannabis that improved yield in THC2 and required no additional cultivation time.https://www.mdpi.com/2073-4395/12/4/852medicinal CannabisagronomycannabinoidsgraftingTHCCBD |
| spellingShingle | Sarah Jane Purdy Amitha K. Hewavitharana Razlin Azman Halimi Nelson Joel Magner Tyson James Peterswald Amy Trebilco Tobias Kretzschmar Deborah Hailstones A One-Step Grafting Methodology Can Adjust Stem Morphology and Increase THCA Yield in Medicinal Cannabis Agronomy medicinal Cannabis agronomy cannabinoids grafting THC CBD |
| title | A One-Step Grafting Methodology Can Adjust Stem Morphology and Increase THCA Yield in Medicinal Cannabis |
| title_full | A One-Step Grafting Methodology Can Adjust Stem Morphology and Increase THCA Yield in Medicinal Cannabis |
| title_fullStr | A One-Step Grafting Methodology Can Adjust Stem Morphology and Increase THCA Yield in Medicinal Cannabis |
| title_full_unstemmed | A One-Step Grafting Methodology Can Adjust Stem Morphology and Increase THCA Yield in Medicinal Cannabis |
| title_short | A One-Step Grafting Methodology Can Adjust Stem Morphology and Increase THCA Yield in Medicinal Cannabis |
| title_sort | one step grafting methodology can adjust stem morphology and increase thca yield in medicinal cannabis |
| topic | medicinal Cannabis agronomy cannabinoids grafting THC CBD |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2073-4395/12/4/852 |
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