The aim of this B. Sc. thesis was to review feminized varieties of industrial hemp (Cannabis sativa L.) from EU Common Catalogue of Varieties intended for cannabinoid production. The thesis first discusses sex expression in hemp, its importance for the production of feminized seed, and the usefulness of such seed in cannabinoid production. Basic variety data were obtained from the EU Plant Variety Portal (EUPVP), while the review was supplemented with information from seed supplier's websites, because feminized varieties cannot be identified directly from EUPVP data. The search for Cannabis sativa L. in EUPVP included 182 variety records, of which 146 were currently registered records and 127 represented different names of currently registered varieties. The review included 13 currently registered feminized varieties, while the variety Strawberry was treated separately because it was described as seed under certification. Most of the reviewed varieties were registered in Bulgaria, fewer in the Netherlands, while Switzerland represented a special case. Most varieties were intended for CBD production, whereas XTAZ and Enectarol were oriented towards CBG production. The review showed that EUPVP does not provide clear information on whether varieties are feminized. More precise information on the sex type of varieties or the type of seed material in variety records would therefore be useful for growers and for future reviews of hemp varieties.
|