GENETIC RESOURCES AND CROP EVOLUTION AN INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL, cilt.71, sa.5, ss.1-18, 2024 (Scopus)
Cannabis sativa played a pivotal role across different
industries. Recently, industrial hemp, particularly in the case of
Cannabidiol (CBD), gained attention for its therapeutic potential. This
study evaluated cannabinoid variability and genetic diversity within 43
industrial hemp individuals, primarily Turkish, across various plant
parts and growth stages, and inflorescences of females showed
significant CBD content. The highest contents were observed in Turkish
landraces (0.55–8.05% with an average of 3.26%), making them valuable
genetic resources for high CBD. Genetic structure revealed distinct
populations based on gender and influenced by geographical origin.
Analysis of Molecular Variance showed 92% of genetic variation observed
within populations and indicated a promising source of novel allelic
diversity in the Turkish gene pool. Turkish females showed significant
genetic diversity [No. of Different Alleles (Na) 1.507, No. of Effective
Alleles (Ne) 1.226, Shannon’s Information Index (I) 0.258, and
Percentage of Polymorphic Loc (%P) 74.91], exhibiting richer genetic
variation than their international peers. Principal Coordinate Analysis
unveiled gender-specific genetic differences, and admixture clusters
shed light on genetic interactions and historical connections among
diverse populations. Unweighted Pair-Group Method with Arithmetic
Averaging highlighted unique genetic profiles and distinct genetic
lineages. Genome-wide association study revealed a highly significant
male-specific genetic marker explained 50% of the phenotypic variation.
These findings inform future breeding strategies and conservation
efforts and contribute to varietal identification methods,
Marker-Assisted Selection, and efficient cultivar development in
upcoming programs.