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. 2022 Sep 13;11(18):2383.
doi: 10.3390/plants11182383.

New Insight into Ornamental Applications of Cannabis: Perspectives and Challenges

Mohsen Hesami  1 , Marco Pepe  1 , Austin Baiton  1 , Seyed Alireza Salami  2   3 , Andrew Maxwell Phineas Jones  1
Affiliations

New Insight into Ornamental Applications of Cannabis: Perspectives and Challenges

Mohsen Hesami et al. Plants (Basel). .

Abstract

The characteristic growth habit, abundant green foliage, and aromatic inflorescences of cannabis provide the plant with an ideal profile as an ornamental plant. However, due to legal barriers, the horticulture industry has yet to consider the ornamental relevance of cannabis. To evaluate its suitability for introduction as a new ornamental species, multifaceted commercial criteria were analyzed. Results indicate that ornamental cannabis would be of high value as a potted-plant or in landscaping. However, the readiness timescale for ornamental cannabis completely depends on its legal status. Then, the potential of cannabis chemotype Ⅴ, which is nearly devoid of phytocannabinoids and psychoactive properties, as the foundation for breeding ornamental traits through mutagenesis, somaclonal variation, and genome editing approaches has been highlighted. Ultimately, legalization and breeding for ornamental utility offers boundless opportunities related to economics and executive business branding.

Keywords: breeding; chemotype Ⅴ; hemp; horticulture; landscaping; legalization; potted plant.

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Conflict of interest statement

The authors declare no conflict of interest. The funders had no role in the design of the study; in the collection, analyses, or interpretation of data; in the writing of the manuscript; or in the decision to publish the results.

Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
A schematic representation of different pharmacological and industrial applications of cannabis.
Figure 2
Figure 2
A schematic representation of the methodology for evaluating cannabis to introduce as an ornamental crop. (a) simplified schematic view of the multifaceted criteria at three levels for assessing cannabis in the ornamental industry, (b) evaluation of cannabis ornamental potential based on twenty attributes, (c) evaluation of cannabis sustainable exploitation feasibility based on twelve attributes, and (d) requirements of the readiness timescale for ornamental cannabis production.
Figure 3
Figure 3
A schematic view of important economic traits of ornamental cannabis.
Figure 4
Figure 4
A schematic view of different breeding-based approaches for producing ornamental cannabis.
Figure 5
Figure 5
Some examples of cannabis mutants with ornamental value. (A) whorled phyllotaxy, (B) Ducksfoot, (C) Australian Bastard Cannabis, and (D) variegated leaves. Image credit: Dutch Passion.
Figure 6
Figure 6
A schematic view of Conditional CRISPR/Cas methodology for producing ornamental cannabis.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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