Nanoparticle-based genetic transformation of Cannabis sativa

Cannabis sativa (Cannabis) is a multipurpose plant species consisting of specific lineages that for centuries has either been artificially selected the production fiber or psychoactive drug ?9-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC). With recent lifting previous legal restrictions on consuming Cannabis, there resurgence interest in understanding and manipulating genetics to enhance its compositions. Yet, recently developed approaches are not amenable high-throughput gene stacking study multi-genic traits. Here, we demonstrate an efficient nanoparticle-based transient transformation protocol where multiple plasmids can be expressed simultaneously intact leaf cells very short time (5 days). Constructs encoding two soybean transcription factors were co-grafted onto poly-ethylenimine cationic polymer-modified silicon dioxide-coated gold nanoparticles ([email protected]2). Infiltration [email protected]2 into tissues resulted both genes localization fluorescent-tagged factor proteins nuclei including trichomes, which cell types biosynthesize valuable cannabinoid terpene metabolites. Our exemplifies rapid approach will useful effects Cannabis.