Abstract Detail

Development and Structure

Shi, Jiaqi [1], Dowling, Caroline [1], Schilling, Susanne [1], Melzer, Rainer [1].

Morphological analysis of inflorescences and flower developmental stages in male and female hemp (Cannabis Sativa) plants.

Hemp (Cannabis sativa) is used for thousands of different applications. The seeds are used for high-quality oil, as human food and as nutritional supplements. From flowers, secondary compounds (cannabinoids, terpenes, flavonoids) are isolated and have many medicinal uses. These factors give hemp substantial market and research value and highlight the importance to understand flower development in hemp in detail. Here, the inflorescences developing phases and floral developmental stages in male and female hemp plants were defined based on light microscopy, along with scanning electron microscopy and computed tomography scanning. Further phenotyping also provided information on key traits in the vegetative development of hemp. Complementary with the expression of the key flower development related genes at different developmental stages by Quantitative PCR (qPCR). We performed a detailed morphological analysis to describe floral transitioning and developmental stages for male and female flowers and seed development. This included defining landmarks of each developmental stage by examining the shape, size, and surface features of developing floral organs. Additionally, this study also contributes a series of reference points for analysing the genetic mechanisms of sex determination in hemp.

1 - University College Dublin, School of Biology and Environmental Science, Belfield, Dublin 4, Ireland

Keywords:
Floral Development
hemp
Cannabis sativa
Quantitative PCR
inflorescences.

Presentation Type: Oral Paper
Number: DS1006
Abstract ID:730
Candidate for Awards:Katherine Esau Award,Maynard F. Moseley Award,Developmental and Structural Section Graduate Student Registration Award