Phytochemical diversity of wild-growing and landrace Cannabis: insights into cannabinoid composition across tissues, sexes, and geographic origins

This study examined the phytochemical diversity of Cannabis, emphasizing wild-growing and landrace populations, along with underutilized plant parts like leaves and male plants. We analysed cannabinoid composition across plant tissues, sexes, and phylogeographic groups to identify distinguishing patterns. Significant differences in total cannabinoid concentrations and compositions were found between tissues, with inflorescences generally having higher cannabinoid levels than leaves, particularly in female plants. While leaves showed no statistically significant differences in cannabinoid composition between male and female plants, male and female inflorescences exhibited notable variations. Geographic origins could not be precisely determined by cannabinoid composition alone, but a global trend emerged: tCBD-dominant plants were predominantly located north of 30°N, and tTHC-dominant plants south of 30°N, with exceptions. Better differentiation was observed between cultivated drug-type landraces and wild-growing plants, reflecting the impact of centuries of selective breeding. These findings underscore the importance of conserving traditional landraces and wild accessions as valuable resources for breeding, conservation, and broader Cannabis applications. Further research with expanded datasets is needed to deepen our understanding of Cannabis phytochemical diversity and evolutionary patterns.