Research Information System
Alsaleh A. (Executive), Yilmaz G., Kartaloğlu N., Ildeş C.
Project Supported by Higher Education Institutions, 2020 - 2022
The number of industrial hemp landraces and cultivars released and production in Turkey is not enough due to
the insufficient utilization of genetic resources in the breeding program. Therefore it is of utmost importance to give
information about the richness of hemp genetic resources and they're used in the development of new cultivars and in the
alternative agriculture system. On the other hand, plants synthesizing the psychoactive THC produce the most widespread
illicit drug in the world. Yet, the difficulty to reliably distinguish between Cannabis varieties based on morphological or
biochemical criteria impedes the development of promising industrial programs and hinders the fight against
narcotrafficking.
Genetics offers an appropriate alternative to characterize drug vs. non-drug Cannabis. Where DNA markers are now
used for determining the genetic variations among genotype, therefore; the main objective of this study is to characterize
hemp genotypes collected from different provinces of Turkey at the molecular level.
The DNA markers that identifying THC and CBD types, cannabinoid ratios, detecting sex of plants, and the infected
plant will be used, at the early stages of growth.
These tools are very helpful for hemp breeders, to prevent costly infestations and save valuable time and resources that
would otherwise be spent on plants with undesirable traits.
In this way, the genetic characterization of hemp genetic resources from important hemp growing provinces of Turkey
will be done and detecting the important traits.