SIMPLE DNA EXTRACTION AND VALIDATION OF MOLECULAR MARKERS FOR EARLY SEX DETERMINATION IN NEW THAI Cannabis sativa L. CULTIVARS

Precision Agriculture (PA) utilizes cutting-edge technology and data management to optimize the efficiency and precision of farming techniques. Early and precise sex determination is essential for the production of Cannabis sativa L., as female plants have a higher concentration of cannabinoids, making them more desirable for therapeutic purposes. The objective of this study is to create a rapid and dependable method for detecting male cannabis plants right after young leaves immerge utilizing molecular markers. Thirty cannabis leaf samples of some new cultivars of known sex from Suranaree University of Technology (SUT) cannabis farm were used in the study. DNA was extracted with an innuPREP Plant DNA Kit. The DNA was amplified by Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) with MADC2 primers, and the products were evaluated by agarose gel electrophoresis. The results of our study showed that male plants displayed a single DNA band of 390 base pairs, whilst female plants showed two bands of approximately 560 and 870 base pairs. These findings are consistent with prior studies, validating the dependability of the MADC2 marker in identifying the gender of new cannabis cultivars. Easy and rapid DNA extraction from cannabis leaves was also developed. This study emphasizes the significance of molecular approaches in improving cannabis farming. Implementing such strategies has substantial potential for enhancing cannabis breeding and production.