Exploring Genetic Diversity for High CBD Content in Cannabis Accessions in Tropical and Subtropical Regions of India

Cannabis, also known as marijuana or hemp, has been utilized since ancient times for industrial, religious, recreational, and medical uses. However, regardless of the intended use, there are legal requirements for quantitative testing of cannabinoids across the supply chains. This investigation aimed to evaluate the genetic diversity of 54 Cannabis samples collected from tropical and subtropical regions in India. The research found a high genotypic coefficient of variation (GCV), phenotypic coefficient of variation (PCV), heritability, and genetic advance for total cannabidiol (CBD) content. The genotypic and phenotypic correlation among the morpho-chemical characters revealed strong positive correlations among most characters. Clustering and Principal component analysis identified three accessions in cluster II (CIM-CS-65, CIM-CS-189 & CIM-CS-64) with high CBD content that could be used for breeding and as sources of high CBD content in Cannabis. CIM-CS-64, with its high CBD content with 0.01%THC content, holds potential as a valuable parental line for utilization in hybridization programs and recombinant breeding. Furthermore, in accordance with the NDPC Act of 1985, CIM-CS-64 can be commercialized for medicinal purposes, making it a promising source for the development of medicinal CBD products.