// Cannabis Breeding

Most commercial crops have a long and rich scientific research history, leading to successful breeding programs. This is not the case for cannabis.

For many years, efforts to criminalize cultivation of the plant and its extracts have stifled research on the various strains and the genomic traits that influence them. Today, with many governments legalizing cannabis growth and sale, a period of rapid advancement begins – an exciting time for the industry.

NRGene is uniquely positioned to give the cannabis industry the boost it needs. We have designed a full set of tools to empower efficient Cannabis breeding, including highly accurate genome mapping, marker discovery, and trait mapping of new strains. Access to this new genomic information is allowing growers to efficiently and precisely develop new cannabis breeds with the desired characteristics, significantly reducing costs and timelines.

Try us out
Play Video

Advanced genomics gives companies like Kayagene the advantage of having a robust program that can utilize time and money more effectively, enabling selections earlier on in the breeding program.”

CHRISTOPHER HOHN, PHD

R&D Director, Kayagene 

The Cannabis Genome

The cannabis genome is comprised of 1 billion base pairs (Gbp). It is highly heterozygous, which means most of the regions (loci) along the genome possess two dissimilar sequences (alleles). Most assembly tools generate a synthetic (haploid) genome, resulting in a sequence for cannabis that is typically a mix (chimera) of both alleles.

NRGene’s DeNovoMAGIC aassembly tool takes different approach – by accurately phasing the two alleles, we are able to deliver a true representation of the genome.

Results

The improved statistics are a testimony of high applicative value of the heterozygote assembly. As shown below, fewer assembly errors and almost double the obtained genome sequence were delivered. Such results can be obtained quickly and cost effectively for the genome that will help your business. 

Hemp Genome Assembly (Kayagene project):

PARAMETERSNRGene fully phased genomePURPLE KUSHJAMAICAN LIONcs10 from Sunrise genetics
ASSEMBLY SIZE1.67 Gbp0.89 Gbp1.03 Gbp0.87Gbp
N502.70 Mbp0.13 Mbp0.66 Mbp
N50 #SEQUENCES1621,924333
MAX SCAFFOLD LENGTH39.67 Mbp1.41 Mbp11.93 Mbp
BUSCO94.7%89.7%93.3%91.5%

Our Latest Projects: 

INTRODUCING THE FIRST FULLY-PHASED CANNABIS GENOME

NRGENE AND KAYAGENE, LLC. COLLABORATE TO IMPROVE CANNABIS BREEDING AND SEED PRODUCTION

NRGENE AND RCK TO DEVELOP DNA TESTS FOR MEDICAL CANNABIS

NRGENE AND PURE CANNABIS RESEARCH AG TEAM UP FOR NOVEL CANNABIS PRODUCTION