A protocol for rapid generation cycling (speed breeding) of hemp (Cannabis sativa) for research and agriculture

Hemp (Cannabis sativa) is a highly versatile crop with a multitude of applications, from textiles, biofuel and building material to high-value food products for consumer markets. Furthermore, non-hallucinogenic cannabinoids like cannabidiol (CBD), which can be extracted from female hemp flowers, are potentially valuable pharmacological compounds. In addition, hemp has high carbon sequestration potential associated with its rapid growth rate. Therefore, the hemp industry is gaining more traction and breeding hemp cultivars adapted to local climate conditions or bred for specific applications is becoming increasingly important. Here, we present a method for the rapid generation cycling (speed breeding) of hemp. The speed breeding protocol makes use of the photoperiod sensitivity of Cannabis. It encompasses vegetative growth of the plants for 2 weeks under continuous light, followed by 4 weeks under short-day conditions, during which flower induction, pollination and seed development proceed, and finally a seed ripening phase under continuous light and water stress. With the protocol described here, a generation time of under 9 weeks (61 days) from seed to seed can be achieved. Furthermore, our method synchronises the flowering time of different hemp cultivars, thus facilitating crosses between cultivars. The extremely short generation time will enable hemp researchers and breeders to perform crosses in a time-efficient way and generate new hemp cultivars with defined genetic characteristics over a short period of time.

Automated summary

Hemp is a versatile crop with various applications, including textiles, biofuel, and food products. Non-hallucinogenic cannabinoids like CBD can be extracted from hemp flowers. The speed breeding method described in this study allows for rapid generation cycling and synchronizes flowering time, enabling efficient crosses between hemp cultivars and the generation of new cultivars with desired genetic characteristics.