Detalle de: Exploring Genomic and Transcriptomic Data and Available Resources for Cannabis Research

Cannabis is a multifaceted crop used since the origins of human civilization, oriented towards fiber production, alternative medicine, and recreational activities. Due to the recognition of several therapeutic applications and its expanding use in medicine, cannabis is lately gaining more social acceptance, and its cultivation is acquiring importance after decades of prohibition. Specialized metabolites with pharmacological and psychoactive properties are mainly produced in glandular trichomes from female inflorescences. Here, we describe how several genome sequencing initiatives that have been carried out have aided in deciphering the origin and diversity of cannabis accessions. We provide a comprehensive review of the use of transcriptomics to study responses to abiotic stress and the biosynthesis of specialized metabolites in glandular trichomes, focusing on therapeutic cannabinoids and aromatic terpenoids. We are facing a new era in cannabis research, where large phenotyping, genotyping and omics data is being integrated to study gene regulatory networks. Recent advances in systems biology have expanded our understanding of gene function, pathway elucidation, and metabolic accumulation in cannabis, and they have enabled the discovery of alternative botanical sources of natural cannabinoids. Additionally, we present newly released resources for integrating and visualizing multiomics data in cannabis, such as CannabisGDB and CannaViz. Overall, this knowledge will be valuable for the efficient production of therapeutic cannabinoids via diverse biotechnological approaches, including precision breeding and metabolic engineering, thus promoting the use of these compounds in human well-being.