Mitochondrial genomes do not appear to regulate flowering pattern/reproductive strategy in Cannabis sativa. Issue 3 (30th October 2021)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Attia, Ziv; Pogoda, Cloe; Vergara, Daniela; Kane, Nolan C
• Editors: Brennan, Adrian
• Is Part Of: AoB plants. Volume 14:Issue 3(2022)
• Publication Date: 2021-10-30
• Subjects: Genome assembly -- haplotype network -- hemp -- marijuana -- reproductive strategy; Plants -- Periodicals; Botany -- Periodicals; 580.5
• DOI: 10.1093/aobpla/plab068
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 2041-2851

Abstract

Abstract: Currently, the amount of genetic data for Cannabis is lacking due to the illegal nature of the plant. Our study used 73 Cannabis sativa whole-genome shotgun libraries to reveal eight different mtDNA haplotypes. The most common haplotype contained 60 of the 73 samples studied and was composed of only dioecious individuals. However, other haplotypes contained a mix of both mating strategies (i.e. monoecious and dioecious). From these haplotype groupings we further examined the fully annotated mitochondrial genomes of four hemp individuals with different mt haplotypes and recorded gene content, copy number variation and synteny. Our results revealed highly syntenic mitochondrial genomes that contained ~60 identifiable sequences for protein-coding genes, tRNAs and rRNAs and no obvious rearrangements or chimeric genes. We found no clear evidence that modern reproductive patterns are due to simple cytoplasmic male sterility mutations. It is likely the interaction between nuclear genetic components and the X/Y sex chromosomes that determines reproductive strategy. Additionally, we added 50 % more mitochondrial genomes to the publicly available repository. Abstract : The mitochondria is an important organ in the cell that has its own DNA, referred to as haplotype. In this study, we compared the mitochondrial haplotypes from 73 different Cannabis individuals including marijuana and hemp varieties to understand the diversity of these genomes. We also wanted to establish whether the haplotypes were associated to the mating strategies found in Cannabis, dioecious (males and females) or monoecious (hermaphrodites). We found a common haplotype in 82 % of the individuals, but overall, the Cannabis mitochondrial genomes were similar with no clear associations between haplotypes and reproductive strategy.