Application of a Forensic DNA Extraction System for Cannabis sativa Seed Identification

Identification of Cannabis sativa seeds is crucial for law authorities fighting drug abuse and global trafficking. However, because they lack chemicals that are routinely used to pinpoint C. sativa plants, their identification becomes far more challenging. Germinating the seeds requires tremendous resources, is time consuming and is not effective when dealing with nonviable seeds. Botanical identification relies on well-trained experts. In recent years, laboratories have started to use specific DNA markers to achieve this goal. Real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction (qPCR) was found to be a simple and efficient approach. However, seed DNA extraction is often labor intensive and involves many steps, which may also lead to DNA loss and contaminations. In the present study, we explored whether the PrepFiler™ Express Forensic DNA Extraction Kit, which is used in our DNA casework forensic laboratory, can reduce the work required for this critical step. We show that this kit has several advantages when compared with a dedicated plant extraction kit. In addition, we show that the combination of this extraction method and qPCR can enable high-throughput C. sativa seed identification.