Cannabis sativa (Subbotin, 1986)

Bernard, Ernest C, Chaffin, Angel G & Gwinn, Kimberly D, 2022, Review of nematode interactions with hemp (Cannabis sativa), Journal of Nematology 54 (1), pp. 1-18 : 9

Nematodes and Cannabis sativa secondary metabolites

Inflorescences, leaves, and roots of Cannabis sativa contain a wealth of secondary metabolites that are bioactive and have potential as sources of biopesticides ( Andre et al., 2016). Cultivars of medicinal C. sativa , CBD-dominant and THC-dominant chemotypes, respectively, are cultivated primarily for the medicinal cannabinoids in the inflorescences (approximately 20% by weight); inflorescences also contain terpenoids and flavonoids but at lower concentrations. Leaves contain less than 10% of the cannabinoids and terpenoids in inflorescences but have higher concentrations of flavonoids ( Jin et al., 2020). In general, extracts from inflorescences had greater bioactivity against entomopathogenic nematodes than those from leaves or stems. Extracts of leaves from one THC-dominant chemotype and one CBD-dominant chemotype were attractive to Steinernema feltiae and S. carpocapsae, respectively, whereas extracts from another THCdominant chemotype and another CBD-dominant chemotype were weak repellents to S. carpocapsae ( Laznik et al., 2020) . Sterols and triterpenes are the primary components of stem barks and roots ( Jin et al., 2020), but other compounds such as aliphatics ( Kornpointner et al., 2021), amides ( Yamamoto et al., 1991), and cannabinoids ( Gul et al., 2018) have also been isolated from roots ( Fig. 3 ). Numerous root compounds impact nematode behavior and development and may influence many of the host-nematode interactions described above.

Figures

Figure 3: Chemicals isolated from Cannabis sativa roots. (A) Phytosterols. (B) Triterpenoids. (C) Cannabinoids: - (−)-trans-∆9-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC); cannabidiol (CBD); cannabidiolic acid (CBDA). (D) Nitrogen-containing compounds.