What is Plant Breeding & Genetics? Plant breeding is human selection of plant populations and began around 10,000 years ago. Plant breeders make crosses of their most promising lines, test as many offspring as possible and select the best to plant for the next generation. In the past 150 years the laws of inheritance and principles of genetics have been discovered and incorporated into the modern breeding process. Within species varieties differ in DNA sequence and phenotype. In agriculture, this is basis of the heritable variation that humans have exploited for the past 10,000 years of breeding. Modern Plant Breeding & Genetics By combining molecular biology and statistical genetics, modern breeders and geneticists are able to more effectively identify and select desirable genotypes in breeding populations. The recent ability to compare a superior variety to a less improved variety and understand the genomic basis of that difference in yield can greatly increase the efficiency of the breeding process. The process starts with the identification of molecular markers which are statistically associated with important traits such as disease and insect resistance or grain quality traits. These markers are then used to analyze DNA collected from seedlings of new breeding populations and select those that carry the trait. The advantage of this approach is that it can be performed cheaper and more accurately than traditional phenotypic analyses. The fundamental breeding process of cross pollination among desirable breeding lines has not changed. The paradigm shift is in the ability to rapidly and accurately select the most desirable genotypes. NWG is focusing on the same goals for improving the value of hemp as a viable cropping option in today’s agricultural system. What is the difference between a “variety” or “cultivar” and a strain? In botanical terms, all three are generally defined as a group of offspring descended from a common ancestor which share common morphological and/or physiological characteristics. In cannabis, there is an unofficial distinction. A cannabis strain can be defined as a group of plants created asexually through clonal propagation. This is the most common form of plant production in the marijuana industry. Clones, by definition, are nearly identical genetically with the exception of the random mutations during plant cell division in the development of the "mother plant" (the plant from which a population of clones is generated). Mutations are almost always deleterious. A single mother plant creates a finite number of progeny so the maintenance of a strain requires cloning from the progeny of the original mother. Mutations accumulate with each successive generation so that, eventually, clone quality (e.g. cannabinoid profile.) deteriorates to the point that the strain is abandoned. The cannabis community often refers to this mutational load as genetic drift but this is a misnomer. A cannabis variety (or cultivar) can be defined as a group of plants created sexually through propagation of seed. The seed of selected plants (those expressing the characteristic of interest) are used for planting the following generation. Mutations undoubtedly occur during sexual reproduction but they only impact a single individual which can be removed from the population by the breeder. As soon as an individual carrying a mutation is used as a mother plant, all derived progeny will inherit the mutation. Don’t plant varieties perform differently depending on where they are grown? Yes, it’s true! However, the best seed is well bred for adaptation to your specific region and climate. Though major traits will remain stable, variety performance will vary slightly within a region. Importantly, cannabinoid content will not have significant variances. Rely’s© THC content varied minimally across the landscape of Colorado. Every plant stayed well below 0.2% THC in every location regardless of altitude, rainfall,or other regional growing conditions. making them all well below the legal 0.3% limit. Is NWG creating GMO hemp? No, NWG does not perform genetic engineering on any of our varieties. NWG uses traditional plant breeding techniques to create varieties adapted to production in the United States.We incorporate modern sequencing technology and statistical genetics methods to accelerate the development process. This approach allows us to make more informed decisions, thus minimizing the time to market for improved varieties. Ultimately, all stakeholders in the supply chain benefit from higher yielding hemp carrying value-added traits (e.g. high CBD flower).

FAQs Archive - Page 3 of 4 - New West Genetics

Why bother learning about the Biochemical Genetics of Cannabinoids?

By admin|2023-10-10T13:32:24-06:00December 21st, 2016|Categories: Cannabinoids|

Identifying which cannabinoids affect which neuropathways takes a tremendous team of professionals from multiple disciplines in science. The ability to use marker-assisted breeding expedites this research and pinpoints the pathways desired for selection with certainty. This will make medicinal solutions more stable and predictable for product makers and consumers. New West Genetics has developed the knowledge to move Cannabis sativa’s potential into a data-based reality.

0

What peer-reviewed research is there about the Endocannabinoid system?

By admin|2023-10-10T13:28:45-06:00December 21st, 2016|Categories: Cannabinoids|

In 1988, Devane et al. reported the existence of cannabinoid-binding sites in the human brain. This CB1 receptor was cloned in 1990 and identified as part of the family of G protein-coupled receptors. A second cannabinoid receptor, CB2, was discovered in 1993 (Munro et al. 1993). We now know these two cannabinoid receptors exist in all chordates and evolved hundreds of millions of years ago (Pertwee et al. 2010). The presence of these receptors implies that humans (and other chordates) produce their own compounds that bind to these receptors. Two such endogenous or endocannabinoids have been discovered and characterized. There is currently an ongoing effort to understand which cannabinoids affect which neuropathways; this involves a tremendous team of professionals from multiple disciplines in science.

0

What do we know about Cannabinoids?

By admin|2023-10-10T13:22:42-06:00December 21st, 2016|Categories: Cannabinoids|

Cannabinoids are a subset of terpenophenolics unique to the species C. sativa. There are 80+ known cannabinoids in C. Sativa (Flores-Sanchez and Verpoorte 2008), with the most abundant being Δ9 THC (Δ9 Tetrahydrocannabinol), CBD (Cannabidiol) and CBN (Cannabinol). Several genes controlling these compounds' biosynthesis from a CBG (Cannabigerol) precursor have been identified (Taura et al. 1996). The amount and type of cannabinoids produced are influenced by both genetic variation among C. sativa plants and environmental conditions (Toth et al. 2021) and (Woods et al. 2021). Cannabinoids are at the highest concentration in the plant's glandular trichomes; therefore, genes controlling trichome development will also influence the amount of cannabinoids a given plant produces.

0

What regulatory agency are you certified by?

By admin|2023-10-10T11:13:49-06:00December 21st, 2016|Categories: New West|

In compliance with the 2014 Federal Farm Bill section 7606, we are registered and licensed with the applicable state departments of agriculture and international agricultural regulatory agencies. NWG Seed lots are certified with AOSCA, state departments of agriculture, and international certifying agencies like Health Canada.

0

What markets do you serve?

By admin|2023-10-10T11:07:03-06:00December 21st, 2016|Categories: New West|

New West Genetics serves the food, feed, fuel, and fiber markets.

0

Citations and Relevant Cannabis sativa Research

By admin|2023-10-31T14:48:44-06:00December 20th, 2016|

Bielecka M, Kaminski F, Adams I, Poulson H, Sloan R, Li Y, Larson TR, Winzer T, Graham IA. Targeted mutation of Δ12 and Δ15 desaturase genes in hemp produce major alterations in seed fatty acid composition including a high oleic hemp oil. Plant Biotechnology J. 2014 Feb 10. Bócsa I, Mathé P, Hangyel L. (1997) Effect of nitrogen on N tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) content in hemp (Cannabis sativa) L.) leaves at different positions. J. Int. Hemp Assoc. 4: 80–81. Clarke RC (1981) Marijuana Botany: An Advanced Study: The Propagation and Breeding of Distinctive Cannabis. Ronin, Berkley CA Etienne P. M. de Meijer, Manuela Bagatta, Andrea Carboni, Paola Crucitti, V. M. Cristiana Moliterni, Paolo Ranalli and Giuseppe Mandolino (2003) The Inheritance of Chemical Phenotype in Cannabis sativa L. Genetics 163: 335–346 Flores-Sanchez IJ, Verpoorte R. PKS activities and biosynthesis of cannabinoids and flavonoids in Cannabis sativa L. plants. Plant Cell Physiol. 2008 Dec;49(12):1767-82. Flores-Sanchez IJ, Choi YH, Verpoorte R. Metabolite analysis of Cannabis sativa L. by NMR spectroscopy. Methods Mol Biol. 2012; 815:363-75. Gadzicki D, Müller-Vahl K, Stuhrmann M. A frequent polymorphism in the coding exon of the human cannabinoid receptor (CNR1) gene. Mol Cell Probes. 1999 Aug;13(4):321-3. George M Stack, Stephen I Snyder, Jacob A Toth, Michael A Quade, Jamie L Crawford, John K McKay, John Nicholas Jackowetz, Ping Wang, Glenn Philippe, Julie L Hansen, Virginia M Moore, Jocelyn K C Rose, Lawrence B Smart, Cannabinoids function in defense against chewing herbivores in Cannabis sativa L., Horticulture Research, 2023;, uhad207, https://doi.org/10.1093/hr/uhad207 Harm van Bakel, Jake M [...]

0

Cannabinoids

By admin|2023-10-31T15:13:11-06:00December 20th, 2016|

Cannabinoids are a subset of terpenophenolics that are unique to the species C.. sativa. There are 70 known cannabinoids in Cannabis Sativa (Flores-Sanchez and Verpoorte 2008), with the most abundant being Δ9 THC (Δ9 Tetrahydrocannabinol), CBD (Cannabidiol) and CBN (Cannabinol). Several of the genes controlling the biosynthesis of these compounds from a Cannabigerol precursor have been identified (Taura et al. 1996). The amount and type of cannabinoids produced is influenced by both genetic variation among Cannbis sativa plants and the environment (de Meijer et al. 2003). Cannabinoids are at highest concentration in glandular trichomes of the plant, and therefore genes controlling trichome development will also influence the amount of cannabinoids a given plant produces.

0

Plant Genetics

By admin|2016-12-20T15:34:44-06:00December 20th, 2016|

What is Plant Breeding & Genetics? Plant breeding is human selection of plant populations and began around 10,000 years ago. Plant breeders make crosses of their most promising lines, test as many offspring as possible and select the best to plant for the next generation. In the past 150 years the laws of inheritance and principles of genetics have been discovered and incorporated into the modern breeding process. Within species varieties differ in DNA sequence and phenotype. In agriculture, this is basis of the heritable variation that humans have exploited for the past 10,000 years of breeding. Modern Plant Breeding & Genetics By combining molecular biology and statistical genetics, modern breeders and geneticists are able to more effectively identify and select desirable genotypes in breeding populations. The recent ability to compare a superior variety to a less improved variety and understand the genomic basis of that difference in yield can greatly increase the efficiency of the breeding process. The process starts with the identification of molecular markers which are statistically associated with important traits such as disease and insect resistance or grain quality traits. These markers are then used to analyze DNA collected from seedlings of new breeding populations and select those that carry the trait. The advantage of this approach is that it can be performed cheaper and more accurately than traditional phenotypic analyses. The fundamental breeding process of cross pollination among desirable breeding lines has not changed. The paradigm shift is in the ability to rapidly and accurately select [...]

0

New West Genetics’ Products

By admin|2016-12-20T15:30:20-06:00December 20th, 2016|

Can I buy seed from you? As of Winter 2017, all of New West Genetics seed has been spoken for until Q4 of 2018! We will however be contacting farmers and growers to contract grow some of the 2018 season. Please sign up here if you are interested sign up here. Can I buy grain from you? Absolutely! Rely© is a certified grain variety that is bred specifically for the Western region. In season 2018 we will have Rely© grain readily available for retail product makers. Can I buy your high CBD seed? We will not sell our high CBD seed in the United States yet, but what New West Genetics can do is work with interested companies and contract to grow these high CBD seeds on the client’s behalf. What is Brewer’s Hemp©? Brewers’ Hemp© refers to specialty varieties bred and designed after working in collaboration with brewers to develop flavor profiles based on specific, unique terpene and cannabinoid content. NWG verifies that each unique profile meets exact brewer’s specifications and enhances their craft brewed beverages. People are making beer out of hemp? The similarities in the aromas emitted by the flowering plants Humulus lupulus (hops) and Cannabis sativa (marijuana) has led to a movement among commercial and home brewers. The Cannabaceae plant family is very unique and quite exclusive; among its’ limited members are Cannabis and Humulus. Aside from their similar flower structure both of these species contain terpenes, which are found in most of the plant and fungi [...]

0

What Is New West Genetics?

By admin|2016-12-20T15:23:19-06:00December 20th, 2016|

What does New West Genetics sell? We are the engine enabling the rapid development of scalable, diverse and sought after products for the industrial hemp and cannabis industries. We serve other businesses by providing specialty bred hemp genetics (seed only), wholesale hemp flower, and cannabinoid extracts intended for use in several industries. We are pleased to further serve our customers by expanding our product line at the end of the 2017 season to include commercial grain seed.. What markets do you serve? Currently, New West Genetics has customers in the nutraceutical cannabinoid industry, the brewery industry, and in the human and animal food nutrition markets. What is the TAM? The cannabinoid or cannabis industry is estimated to be 14 Billion by 2020. (Forbes) The craft brewery market was 22 Billion in 2015. (Brewers Association) The hemp grain market in 2015 was estimated at 600 million. (HIA) What regulatory agency are you certified by? In compliance with the 2014 Federal Farm bill section 7606, we are registered with the Colorado Department of Agriculture. Why do you call it Cannabis sativa when you’re growing hemp? The federal farm bill of 2014 defines hemp as “the species Cannabis sativa with a THC content of 0.3% or less”. The same species is grown in both instances but hemp undergoes selective breeding to ensure lower THC levels. Hemp does in fact contain all of the other 80+ cannabinoids and terpenes found in what is typically thought of as medical marijuana. We refer to marijuana as “high [...]

0