3. Genome Editing to Generate Disease-Resistant Cannabis Varieties
Omics approaches are comprehensive methods for investigating defence response pathways and have been used broadly in medicinal plants
[82,83][53][54]. Furthermore, by identifying candidate resistance genes and yielding an in-depth knowledge of the underlying molecular mechanism, they provide a strong basis for genome editing studies to generate disease-resistant
Cannabis varieties
[83][54].
The use of genetic engineering methods in
Cannabis to enhance its resistance to pathogens and to improve desirable traits is a subject of investigation in several research projects
[84][55]. However, it is challenging to regenerate fully developed
Cannabis transgenic plants
[85][56], and, despite some candidate genes involved in pathogen resistance having been identified, functions of these genes are not yet fully validated, and only a few studies report stable transformation for
Cannabis tissues
[44][43].
The first edited
Cannabis line was developed by
Agrobacterium-mediated transformation
[86][57], in which overexpressing the
Cannabis developmental regulator chimera in the embryo hypocotyls of unripe grains increased the regeneration efficiency. By applying this method, the development of transgenic callus from
Cannabis has been achieved
[87][58]. Evidence suggests that the overexpression of Non-expressor of Pathogenesis-Related genes-1 (
NPR1) in
Arabidopsis can confer disease resistance to different pathogens in various plants, such as cotton
[88][59] and
Brassica juncea [89][60]. The
AtNPR1 gene has been introduced into
C. sativa and confirmed by PCR and RT-PCR, showing that
Cannabis can be transformed to generate disease-resistant varieties
[89][60].
A recent mini-review on hemp genome editing
[90][61] discusses the opportunity offered by next-generation genome editing technology. The direct delivery of CRISPR/Cas (Clustered Regularly Interspaced Short Palindromic Repeats/CRISPR-Associated Protein) ribonucleoprotein complexes into plant tissue overcomes the drawback of
Agrobacterium-mediated transformation, by which external plasmid DNA is introduced into the crop genome. CRISPR/Cas technology, which is still less commonly used in
Cannabis, can be applied to introduce a specific DNA fragment to a precise location in the genome. It could have broad applications in
Cannabis breeding, modifying gene regulation and developing pathogen-resistant plants, as already performed in other recalcitrant plants, such as grapes
[90][61]. For instance, a protocol for this type of transformation in
C. sativa was developed, and genome-edited
Cannabis was produced by CRISPR/Cas9 approach
[90][61].
By using CRISPR/Cas9, the previously discussed results of the study of Mihalyov and Garfinkel
[59][62], consisting of a set of R candidate genes, could be used as target genes to improve PM resistance in the crop.
Furthermore, results reported in other plants could provide useful inputs for
Cannabis gene editing. For instance, the genetic transformation of wheat with TLP and glucanases resulted in enhanced resistance to
Fusarium [91][63], and
MLO-7 was used as a host susceptibility (S) gene to improve grapevine and apple disease resistance to PM
[92][64].
Overall, this advanced genome editing approach, based on a transgene-free framework, can address many problems associated with transgenic-based approaches and could be applied to produce improved non-transgenic
Cannabis, with the most industrially desirable traits, including pathogen resistance traits.
Another alternative to
Agrobacterium transformation protocol is represented by the use of a nanoparticle-based transient gene; through this method, multiple gene plasmids were expressed simultaneously in
Cannabis leaf cells
[93][65]. However, the study of disease resistance through this method is still in its infancy. It offers promising new perspectives in regulating the content of secondary metabolites, inducing pathogen resistance genes, and obtaining transgenic disease-resistant plants
[94,95][66][67].
On this basis, there is a real possibility to improve
Cannabis disease resistance by acting on targeted R genes or on S genes. A deep understanding of the underlying molecular mechanisms in which they are involved, as well as of plant-pathogen interactions, and the application of innovative molecular techniques is leading to innovations in the development of pathogen-resistant plants
[96][68].
To date, it is still challenging to produce transgenic or gene-edited
Cannabis, but the previously reported studies, and several gene editing approaches applied in other plant species, constitute good reference points for further
Cannabis resistance research.
To date, few
Cannabis omics studies are focused on its defence mechanisms against pathogens and the associated resistance genes. However, these studies, along with omics investigations of disease resistance molecular mechanisms in other crops (see
Table 2), could constitute a suitable starting point for further
Cannabis research in this field, especially if combined with gene editing approaches which have recently made significant progress, opening new perspectives in regulating the content of secondary metabolites and inducing pathogen resistance genes.
Table 2. Table summarizing the main studies examined in this entry.
|
Pathogen
|
Crop
|
Resistance Genes/Gene Families and Proteins
|
References
|
|
PM, Fusarium, Botrytis cinerea, Pythium
|
Cannabis
|
-
|
[12]
|
|
PM-Golovinomyces spp.
|
Hops
|
Genes encoding NBS proteins
|
[62][69]
|
|
PM-Golovinomyces spp.
|
Cannabis
|
R gene, designated as PM1
|
[59][62]
|
|
PM-Golovinomyces spp.
|
Cannabis
|
Genes encoding NBS-LRR proteins
|
[59][62]
|
|
F. oxysporum
|
Arabidopsis
|
Genes encoding JA and P450 proteins
|
[68][70]
|
|
F. oxysporum
|
Resistant
crops
|
Genes encoding 4-coumarate-CoA ligase, polyphenol oxidase, cellulose synthase
|
[67][71]
|
|
F. oxysporum
|
Arabidopsis
|
WAK gene family, genes encoding RLKs, WRKY, ERF, MYB, and NAC TFs
|
[69][72]
|
|
F. oxysporum
|
Arabidopsis
|
Genes encoding dirigent-like protein, CAP family and wound-responsive family proteins, some ERF TFs
|
[66][73]
|
|
F. oxysporum
|
Cannabis
|
WAK7
|
[47][46]
|
|
Fusarium spp.
|
Cannabis
|
-
|
[63][74]
|
|
Botrytis cinerea
|
Other crops
|
PRs, SA, JA, ET, ABA and BR gene family
|
[74,75][75][76]
|
|
Botrytis cinerea
|
Cannabis
|
Genes involved in JA/ET, HEL, PAL, SA, PR1 and PR2 pathways
|
[76][77]
|
|
Pythium
|
Other crops
|
Flg22 and PTI in plants
|
[81][78]
|
|
Pythium
|
Cannabis
|
Harpin and Flg22 PAMPs
|
[36][35]
|