“We’d look good in stripes”: Cultivating a cannabis research program
Jessica Lubell-Brand, Associate Professor, UConn PSLA
Date: Friday September 10
Time: 12:15 pm -1:15 pm
Room: Floriculture Room 101, UCONN Floriculture Greenhouse, 1395 Storrs Road, Storrs, CT 06268
Abstract:
Cannabis sativa is a beguiling species because of its dioecious, photoperiodic and psychotropic properties. Dr. Lubell has studied feminized (all female) seed production and will discuss her grower friendly method for masculinization and the limitations of S1 seed, which is commonly sold. The Lubell lab published the first scientific report of triploid cannabis, which is proving to be seedless, a trait that can benefit cannabidiol (CBD) farmers. Ongoing breeding efforts that include using day neutral genotypes to produce triploids that are early flowering, which is a desirable trait for cooler climates like Connecticut, will be covered. Dr. Lubell will also discuss her research on tissue culture micropropagation of cannabis. Cannabis is generally recalcitrant in culture, and in vitro shoots exhibit problems such as hyperhydricity, culture decline, and poor rooting. The Lubell lab has developed solutions for these problems and has successfully maintained vital cultures in micropropagation stage two (shoot multiplication) for 16 months, which has not been previously demonstrated. Dr Lubell’s published hybrid propagation approach, which combines micropropagation and retipping (stem cuttings taken from recently micropropagated plants) enhances propagation output to nine times above levels possible with conventional stem cutting propagation methods.
Dr. Lubell-Brand is an Associate Professor at PSLA UConn. Her research focus on Industrial Hemp tissue culture micropropagation, development and evaluation of feminized seed for production, and ploidy breeding for the development of new and improved industrial hemp germplasm. She is also interested in developing novel native shrubs as replacements for invasive plants. For more information on her research: http://plantscience.uconn.edu/People/Faculty/Lubell.php.
For more information, contact: Huanzhong Wang at huanzhong.wang@ucon.edu