Researchers at The University of Minnesota have developed a test that can predict CBD and THC levels in cannabis plants that may be a game changer for industrial hemp growers.
The test would allow seeds to be certified to guarantee consistency and quality, and thereby reassure farmers that the seeds they sow will produce a plant with the desired CBD:THC content at harvest time.
“We validated a simple genetic test that can predict whether a plant will produce mostly the CBD or THC molecule, using a variety of Cannabis sativa plants,” said George Weiblen, who is a professor in the College of Biological Sciences and the Science Director & Curator of Plants at the Bell Museum.
The researchers studied three varieties of cannabis plants from industrial hemp growers, wild or feral cannabis known as ‘ditch weed’, and marijuana samples from the National Institute on Drug Abuse. They compared their genetic markers with the ratio of THC versus CBD, and then verified that genetics were a good predictor of the ratio.
“We hope this new test can assist in new seed certification for the hemp industry,” said Weiblen. “For hemp to take off in Minnesota and elsewhere, there must be ways to assure growers they won’t have to destroy their crops at the end of the season.”
Read the full article at www.newfoodmagazine.com
Additional Resources:
Validating a predictive model of cannabinoid inheritance with feral, clinical, and industrial Cannabis sativa