Patent Grant
PP35172
Genus/species: Cannabis sativa.
Variety denomination: ‘PCT11204V’.
Cannabis plants contain over a hundred known cannabinoids, which bind to endogenous endocannabinoid receptors. Varinolic cannabinoids, known as varins, are a type of cannabinoid compound having three carbon atoms in their alkyl side chain instead of the five carbon atom alkyl side chains more commonly associated with cannabinoids. Two such varins are tetrahydrocannabivarin (THCV) and cannabidivarin (CBDV), which are homologues of tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) and cannabidiol (CBD), respectively. Each varin has a unique pharmacological profile and distinct molecular targets.
THCV and CBDV have potential benefits across a broad set of applications. Cannabis plants or extracts with high THCV levels, for example, can be used as an agent for anticonvulsant activity, obesity-associated glucose intolerance, appetite suppression, anxiety management for PTSD, diabetic neuropathy, and major neuropathic and pain related pathologies. Another THCV application is that of an appetite suppressing compound. CBDV has been shown to have anti-epileptic and anticonvulsant activity.
Research and development as well as the sale of varin products has been limited due to low commonly occurring levels of varins in Cannabis flower. The ability to produce Cannabis with high varin levels will create a platform for a new Cannabinoid category with differentiated, high margin products in both medical and recreational markets. The present invention solves these problems by providing a novel Cannabis plant having high varin levels, which is referred to by the variety name ‘PCT11204V’.
The new variety of Cannabis sativa was created by sourcing Cannabis plants that produce THCV. All breeding, cultivation, and chemotype analyses were conducted by a contract research organization under contract for the Applicant. Crosses were then conducted to elevate further THCV and other varins. The plants are crossed to produce new varieties that are selected to further elevate THCV levels. Progeny are chemically analyzed to select those having elevated THCV levels, and then either (1) backcrossed to the high-yielding THCV parent to ensure additional progeny can be selected for increased THCV production, or (2) selfed to fix genetic loci associated with THCV levels to ensure additional progeny can be selected for increased THCV production. Marker-assisted selection may be used further to identify candidate progeny expected to have elevated THCV levels for subsequent crosses to ensure selection of progeny having the highest THCV levels. All chemical analyses were conducted using High Performance Liquid Chromatography to detect the cannabinoids described herein. The present invention is a selection resulting from the cross of a high THCV pollen receiver plant (“20VLDY-1002-3”) and a high THC pollen donor plant (“20TP1B-1008-1”). Parent cultivar 20VLDY-1002-3 is a late maturing (>12 weeks) cultivar with long internode lengths, flowers with low trichome density, a THCV content of 4-6%, and a THC content of 4-6%. Parent cultivar 20TP1B-1008-1 is similar to typical cultivated cultivars, with a maturity of 9 weeks from flower initiation, moderate internode lengths, a THC content of 21%, and a THCV content of 1%. Ninety seeds of variety “THC-Victory” were planted Aug 17, 2020. From this population, one plant designated “20VLDY-1002-3” of THC content 11.9% and THCV content 13.96% was selected and cloned for future crosses. 24 seeds of variety “Guicy Banger” were planted Jun. 19, 2020. From this population, one plant designated “20TP1B-1008-1” of THC content 20.66% and THCV content 1.16% was selected and cloned for future crosses. A clone of 20TP1B-1008-1 was crossed onto a clone of 20VLDY-1002-3 in the spring of 2021. 144 of the resulting F1 seeds were sown May 14, 2021. The present invention was discovered and selected as a single plant from this F1 seed and was subsequently propagated clonally at a contract research organization under contract for the Applicant. The selection was subsequently evaluated for five cycles at a contract research organization under contract for the Applicant. Individual plants were propagated in an indoor facility with supplemental lighting. Plants are transferred to a mixed-light greenhouse once established. Asexual reproduction of the new variety by stem cutting propagation since 2021 at the contract research organization under contract for the Applicant, and has demonstrated that the new variety reproduces true to type with all the characteristics, as herein described and are, firmly fixed and retained through successive generations of asexual propagation.
The new variety is named ‘PCT11204V’ and is characterized as having elevated varin levels.
The following is a detailed description of the new Cannabis variety known as ‘PCT11204V’.
All breeding, cultivation, and chemotype analyses were conducted by a contract research organization under contract for the Applicant.
Cannabis plants having elevated THCV levels were sourced and obtained, and crosses were conducted to further elevate THCV levels. The plants were crossed to produce new varieties that were selected to further elevate THCV levels. Plant variety ‘PCT11204V’ was selected and asexually reproduced.
Table 1 describes the general characteristics of ‘PCT11204V’ at 60 days after lighting was changed to a 12/12 light cycle. Color codes are derived from The Royal Horticultural Society (R.H.S.) Color Chart.
Table 2 describes the leaf/foliage of ‘PCT11204V’.
Table 3 describes the stem of ‘PCT11204V’.
Table 4 describes the inflorescence of ‘PCT11204V’.
Table 5 describes other characteristics of ‘PCT11204V’.
Chemical analyses were conducted using High Performance Liquid Chromatography to detect the cannabinoids described herein. Table 6 describes a chemotype and terpene analysis of ‘PCT11204V’, which was chemotyped by taking a sample from the main cola at day 83 after initiation of the 12:12 light cycle, which initiates flowering. Trichomes were 65% cloudy and 1% amber, indicative of full maturity at sampling.
| Number | Name | Date | Kind |
|---|---|---|---|
| PP33210 | Kahn et al. | Jun 2021 | P3 |
| PP33211 | Kahn et al. | Jun 2021 | P3 |
| PP33212 | Kahn et al. | Jun 2021 | P3 |
| 11297789 | Kahn et al. | Apr 2022 | B2 |
| 11297790 | Kahn et al. | Apr 2022 | B2 |
| 11297791 | Kahn et al. | Apr 2022 | B2 |
| 20200323162 | Kahn et al. | Oct 2020 | A1 |
| 20200323163 | Kahn et al. | Oct 2020 | A1 |
| 20200323164 | Kahn et al. | Oct 2020 | A1 |
| 20200329599 | Kahn et al. | Oct 2020 | P1 |
| 20200329600 | Kahn et al. | Oct 2020 | P1 |
| 20200329601 | Kahn et al. | Oct 2020 | P1 |
| Entry |
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| Welling, MT et al. (2019) “Complex Patterns of Cannabinoid Alkyl side-Chain Inheritance in Cannabis.” Scientific Reports 9:11421. |
| Welling, MT et al (2020) “An extreme-phenotype genome-wide association study identifies candidate cannabinoid pathway genes in Cannabis” Scientific Reports 10:18643. |
