Abstract Detail

Functional Genetics/Genomics

Dabney, Clemon [1], Grassa, Christopher [2], Wenger , Jonathan P [3], CJ, Schwartz [4], Weiblen, George [5].

The heritability of odor in Cannabis: Using metabolomics, QTL, PCA and Gaussian Markov Random Fields to understand the genetics of terpene production in Cannabis sativa.

Cannabis has been cultivated for over 10,000 years for pharmacological effects, seed oil and fiber. Terpenes are responsible for the distinctive aroma of Cannabis flowers. To better understand terpene production in cannabis we phenotyped a cannabis mapping population for terpene profile and abundance using GC/MS, sequenced the genomes of this population, ran QTL analysis and used principal components analysis (PCA) and Gaussian Markov Random Fields to better understand terpene production in cannabis. Hemp-type and drug-type cannabis were crossed to produce an F2 mapping population. Ninety-six female F2 plants were sequenced and sampled for quantitative analysis of terpenes in female inflorescences. A high-density (HD) linkage map using Illumina sequence data of the parents and 96 F2 individuals from the mapping population was produced. The mapping population was phenotyped for terpene profile and abundance using solid phase microextraction and GC/MS to study volatile terpenes in Cannabis. This phenotypic data was associated with our genomic data using QTL analysis and we found significant QTL for a-pinene, limonene and myrcene. To better understand terpene profiles in cannabis we used a multi-trait mixed model to estimate genetic and environmental covariance components. We used Gaussian Markov Random Fields to cluster terpene profiles and PCA to identify patterns of association among terpene profiles in our mapping population. PCA and Gaussian Markov Random Fields indicated that myrcene abundance is linked with a-guaiene and s-guaiene while humulene and caryophyllene production are linked. We also observed a strong negative association between limonene and a-pinene.

1 - Univeristy of Minnesota, 1445 Gortner Avenue, St. Paul, MN, 55108, USA
2 - Harvard University Herbaria, 22 Divinity Avenue, Harvard University Herbaria, Cambridge, MA, 02138, United States
3 - University Of Minnesota, Plant And Microbial Biology, 1479 Gortner Ave, 140 Gortner Lab, Saint Paul, MN, 55108, United States
4 - Sunrise Genetics, po box 2372, Fort Collins, CO, 80522, USA
5 - Plant & Microbial Biology, 140 Gortner Laboratory , 1479 Gortner Avenue, St. Paul, MN, 55108, United States

Keywords:
SPME
GCMS
metabolomics
Cannabis
Gaussian Markov Random Fields
principal components analysis
Terpene
QTL.

Presentation Type: Oral Paper
Session: 8, Functional Genetics and Genomics
Location: 109/Mayo Civic Center
Date: Monday, July 23rd, 2018
Time: 11:15 AM
Number: 8011
Abstract ID:691
Candidate for Awards:Margaret Menzel Award