Female-Associated DNA Polymorphisms of Hemp (Cannabis sativa L.)

Abstract The sex identification of pre-floral hemp (Cannabis sativa L.) is problematic for taxonomists and plant breeders, because the distinguishing morphological characteristics of male and female plants do not appear before flowering. Employing the RAPD (Random Amplified Polymorphic DNA) technique with 15 random primers, we have found that the genomes of female individuals bear female-associated polymorphic DNA fragments (870 bp and 1160 bp amplified by primer OPA-04; 1680 bp by primer OPF-05), which are absent in the genomes of male individuals amplified by the same primers. This technique makes it possible to determine the gender of dried herbarium specimens lacking flowers, and to select male or female seedlings for breeding parents and other uses.