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Hemp Varieties: Genetic and Chemical Diversity

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Revolutionizing the Potential of Hemp and Its Products in Changing the Global Economy

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Abstract

Cannabis sativa (hemp) as multifunctional crop have traditional application as fiber, food, paper, textile and pharmaceutical potential as inflorescences and seed as sources of exciting bioactive secondary metabolites. The Genus Cannabis is the only producer of phytocannabinoids. Extensive studied have been made to describe the origin history, geographical ranges and genetic identity of the Cannabis species but it remains obscured to date. Various high through put genetic marker have been studied to assess the genetic diversity in hemp varieties. Studies also indicated that domestication origin affects the genetic groups of hemp which further consequences on the chemical diversity of the cannabis. Chemotaxonomy using chemical markers also played a crucial role in differencing and allocating the Cannabis taxa. Cannabinoids ratio and terpene composition are the major marker to play an important role in studying chemical diversity of Cannabis sp. Cannabis genus is the only source of phytocannabinoids the dominant chemical class. Other than cannabinoids terpene and non-cannabinoid phenolic compounds also contribute in the chemical diversity of the species. The vast array of phytochemicals presents in the genus have potential application in pharmaceutical industries. However, due to its legalization status very limited study on its chemical and genetic diversity have been done. Therefore, the species needs attention to explore its commercial value.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. G. B. Pant National Institute of Himalayan Environment, Kosi- Katarmal, Almora, Uttarakhand, 263 643, India

    Varsha Mishra, Khashti Dasila, Mithilesh Singh & Deepika Tripathi

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  1. Varsha Mishra
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  2. Khashti Dasila
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Correspondence to Mithilesh Singh .

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  1. College of Biosystems Engineering and Food Science, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, China

    Tarun Belwal

  2. Indian Council of Agricultural Research-Vivekananda Parvatiya Krishi Anusandhan Sansthan (ICAR-VPKAS), Almora, Uttarakhand, India

    Naveen Chandra Belwal

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Mishra, V., Dasila, K., Singh, M., Tripathi, D. (2022). Hemp Varieties: Genetic and Chemical Diversity. In: Belwal, T., Belwal, N.C. (eds) Revolutionizing the Potential of Hemp and Its Products in Changing the Global Economy. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-031-05144-9_2

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