Patent Publication Number: US-PP35172-P2

Title: Cannabis plant named ‘PCT11204V’

Description:
Genus/species:  Cannabis sativa.    
     Variety denomination: ‘PCT11204V’. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       Cannabis  plants contain over a hundred known cannabinoids, which bind to endogenous endocannabinoid receptors. Varinolic cannabinoids, known as varins, are a type of cannabinoid compound having three carbon atoms in their alkyl side chain instead of the five carbon atom alkyl side chains more commonly associated with cannabinoids. Two such varins are tetrahydrocannabivarin (THCV) and cannabidivarin (CBDV), which are homologues of tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) and cannabidiol (CBD), respectively. Each varin has a unique pharmacological profile and distinct molecular targets. 
     THCV and CBDV have potential benefits across a broad set of applications.  Cannabis  plants or extracts with high THCV levels, for example, can be used as an agent for anticonvulsant activity, obesity-associated glucose intolerance, appetite suppression, anxiety management for PTSD, diabetic neuropathy, and major neuropathic and pain related pathologies. Another THCV application is that of an appetite suppressing compound. CBDV has been shown to have anti-epileptic and anticonvulsant activity. 
     Research and development as well as the sale of varin products has been limited due to low commonly occurring levels of varins in  Cannabis  flower. The ability to produce  Cannabis  with high varin levels will create a platform for a new Cannabinoid category with differentiated, high margin products in both medical and recreational markets. The present invention solves these problems by providing a novel  Cannabis  plant having high varin levels, which is referred to by the variety name ‘PCT11204V’. 
     BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The new variety of  Cannabis sativa  was created by sourcing  Cannabis  plants that produce THCV. All breeding, cultivation, and chemotype analyses were conducted by a contract research organization under contract for the Applicant. Crosses were then conducted to elevate further THCV and other varins. The plants are crossed to produce new varieties that are selected to further elevate THCV levels. Progeny are chemically analyzed to select those having elevated THCV levels, and then either (1) backcrossed to the high-yielding THCV parent to ensure additional progeny can be selected for increased THCV production, or (2) selfed to fix genetic loci associated with THCV levels to ensure additional progeny can be selected for increased THCV production. Marker-assisted selection may be used further to identify candidate progeny expected to have elevated THCV levels for subsequent crosses to ensure selection of progeny having the highest THCV levels. All chemical analyses were conducted using High Performance Liquid Chromatography to detect the cannabinoids described herein. The present invention is a selection resulting from the cross of a high THCV pollen receiver plant (“20VLDY-1002-3”) and a high THC pollen donor plant (“20TP1B-1008-1”). Parent cultivar 20VLDY-1002-3 is a late maturing (&gt;12 weeks) cultivar with long internode lengths, flowers with low trichome density, a THCV content of 4-6%, and a THC content of 4-6%. Parent cultivar 20TP1B-1008-1 is similar to typical cultivated cultivars, with a maturity of 9 weeks from flower initiation, moderate internode lengths, a THC content of 21%, and a THCV content of 1%. Ninety seeds of variety “THC-Victory” were planted Aug 17, 2020. From this population, one plant designated “20VLDY-1002-3” of THC content 11.9% and THCV content 13.96% was selected and cloned for future crosses. 24 seeds of variety “Guicy Banger” were planted Jun. 19, 2020. From this population, one plant designated “20TP1B-1008-1” of THC content 20.66% and THCV content 1.16% was selected and cloned for future crosses. A clone of 20TP1B-1008-1 was crossed onto a clone of 20VLDY-1002-3 in the spring of 2021. 144 of the resulting F1 seeds were sown May 14, 2021. The present invention was discovered and selected as a single plant from this F1 seed and was subsequently propagated clonally at a contract research organization under contract for the Applicant. The selection was subsequently evaluated for five cycles at a contract research organization under contract for the Applicant. Individual plants were propagated in an indoor facility with supplemental lighting. Plants are transferred to a mixed-light greenhouse once established. Asexual reproduction of the new variety by stem cutting propagation since 2021 at the contract research organization under contract for the Applicant, and has demonstrated that the new variety reproduces true to type with all the characteristics, as herein described and are, firmly fixed and retained through successive generations of asexual propagation. 
     The new variety is named ‘PCT11204V’ and is characterized as having elevated varin levels. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPH 
         FIG.  1    is a color image of the entire plant of a 89 day old flowering plant of the variety ‘PCT11204V’ taken at a contract research organization under contract for the Applicant. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION 
     The following is a detailed description of the new  Cannabis  variety known as ‘PCT11204V’. 
     All breeding, cultivation, and chemotype analyses were conducted by a contract research organization under contract for the Applicant. 
       Cannabis  plants having elevated THCV levels were sourced and obtained, and crosses were conducted to further elevate THCV levels. The plants were crossed to produce new varieties that were selected to further elevate THCV levels. Plant variety ‘PCT11204V’ was selected and asexually reproduced. 
     Table 1 describes the general characteristics of ‘PCT11204V’ at 60 days after lighting was changed to a 12/12 light cycle. Color codes are derived from The Royal Horticultural Society (R.H.S.) Color Chart. 
     
       
         
           
               
               
               
             
               
                   
                 TABLE 1 
               
               
                   
                   
               
             
            
               
                   
                 Plant life forms 
                 An herbaceous plant (herb) 
               
               
                   
                 Plant growth habit 
                 An upright, tap-rooted annual plant, 
               
               
                   
                   
                 forming fibrous roots when asexually 
               
               
                   
                   
                 propagated 
               
               
                   
                 Plant origin 
                 A controlled cross between female parent 
               
               
                   
                   
                 20VLDY-1002-3 (unpatented) and male 
               
               
                   
                   
                 parent 20TP1B-1008-1 (unpatented) 
               
               
                   
                 Plant propagation 
                 Asexually propagated by replanting of 
               
               
                   
                   
                 apical and sub-apical semi-heraceous 
               
               
                   
                   
                 stem cuttings 
               
               
                   
                 Propagation Ease 
                 Easy 
               
               
                   
                 Height 
                 1-1.3 m 
               
               
                   
                 Width 
                 0.7-0.9 m 
               
               
                   
                 Plant shape 
                 Simple erect 
               
               
                   
                 Time to harvest 
                 10-12 weeks 
               
               
                   
                 Resistance to pests  
                 Unknown 
               
               
                   
                 or diseases 
                   
               
               
                   
                 GMO? 
                 No 
               
               
                   
                   
               
            
           
         
       
     
     Table 2 describes the leaf/foliage of ‘PCT11204V’. 
     
       
         
           
               
               
             
               
                 TABLE 2 
               
               
                   
               
             
            
               
                 Leaf Arrangement 
                 Alternate 
               
               
                 Leaflet Type 
                 Palmately compound 
               
               
                 Leaflet Structure 
                 Serrated margins, lightly acicular to 
               
               
                   
                 lanceolate leaflets, tapering to an 
               
               
                   
                 acuminate apex 
               
               
                 Leaflet Margins and Base 
                 Margins are jaggedly serrate with each 
               
               
                   
                 tooth apex angled toward leaflet apex; and 
               
               
                   
                 base is attenuate. 
               
               
                 Leaflet hairs 
                 Present on both upper and lower surfaces 
               
               
                 Leaf length with petiole  
                 14-22 cm 
               
               
                 at maturity 
                   
               
               
                 Petiole length and  
                 Length is 3.6-6.5 cm and diameter is 
               
               
                 diameter at maturity 
                 1-2 mm 
               
               
                 Petiole color 
                 45C 
               
               
                 Anthocyanin color and  
                 Color is 47C and intensity in Petioles is 
               
               
                 intensity in Petioles 
                 medium in vegetative stage; strong in 
               
               
                   
                 flowering stage 
               
               
                 Stipule length and width  
                 Length is 0.3-0.7 cm width is &lt;1 mm 
               
               
                 at maturity 
                   
               
               
                 Stipule shape 
                 Linear with slight curvaceous growth 
               
               
                 Stipule color 
                 149C 
               
               
                 No. of leaflets 
                 3-7 
               
               
                 Middle largest (longest)  
                 11.5-15.2 cm 
               
               
                 leaflet length 
                   
               
               
                 Middle largest (longest)  
                 2.5-3.2 cm 
               
               
                 leaflet width 
                   
               
               
                 Middle largest (longest)  
                 4.5-4.8 
               
               
                 leaflet length/width ratio 
                   
               
               
                 No. teeth of middle leaflet 
                 20-26 
               
               
                 Leaflet (upper side-adaxial)  
                 140A 
               
               
                 color 
                   
               
               
                 Leaflet (lower side-abaxial)  
                 135D 
               
               
                 color 
                   
               
               
                 Leaflet glossiness 
                 Slightly glossy on the upper surface 
               
               
                 Vein/midrib shape 
                 Obliquely continuous throughout leaflet 
               
               
                 Vein/midrib color 
                 149D 
               
               
                 Venation pattern 
                 Pinnately veined leaflets 
               
               
                 Aroma 
                 Pleasantly pungent aromatic, strong, 
               
               
                   
                 peculiar smell with a hint of cleaning 
               
               
                   
                 solution scent 
               
               
                   
               
            
           
         
       
     
     Table 3 describes the stem of ‘PCT11204V’. 
     
       
         
           
               
               
               
             
               
                   
                 TABLE 3 
               
               
                   
                   
               
             
            
               
                   
                 Stem description 
                 Hollow and ribbed 
               
               
                   
                 Stem diameter at base 
                 1.5 cm 
               
               
                   
                 Stem color 
                 142A 
               
               
                   
                 Stem length 
                 90-110 cm 
               
               
                   
                 Stem texture 
                 Smooth with shallow grooves 
               
               
                   
                 Stem strength 
                 Strong and upright 
               
               
                   
                 Depth of main stem ribs/grooves 
                 Shallow 
               
               
                   
                 Internode length 
                 2.5-10 cm 
               
               
                   
                   
               
            
           
         
       
     
     Table 4 describes the inflorescence of ‘PCT11204V’. 
     
       
         
           
               
               
             
               
                 TABLE 4 
               
               
                   
               
             
            
               
                 Inflorescence type 
                 Elongated compound cymes with the 
               
               
                   
                 natural flowering season being Autumn 
               
               
                 Proportion of female plants 
                 100% pistillate 
               
               
                 Inflorescence position 
                 Terminal and axillary 
               
               
                 Inflorescence number per  
                 100-150 
               
               
                 plant 
                   
               
               
                 Inflorescence length 
                 2-10 cm 
               
               
                 Flower arrangement 
                 Cymose 
               
               
                 Numbers of flowers per  
                 Hundreds to thousands flowers per plant, 
               
               
                 plant 
                 multitudinous, congested with high 
               
               
                   
                 concentrations on bushier wide 
               
               
                   
                 inflorescence 
               
               
                 Flower shape 
                 Urceolate 
               
               
                 Flower (individual  
                 5-6 mm 
               
               
                 pistillate) length 
                   
               
               
                 Flower (compound  
                 8.5-10.0 cm 
               
               
                 cyme) diameter 
                   
               
               
                 Typical and observed  
                 2-4 mm 
               
               
                 flower depth 
                   
               
               
                 Corolla 
                 No defined corolla 
               
               
                 Corolla color 
                 N/A 
               
               
                 Bract shape 
                 Urceolate 
               
               
                 Bract color upper surface 
                 135C 
               
               
                 Bract color lower surface 
                 135C 
               
               
                 Bract number 
                 3-200 bracts per inflorescence 
               
               
                 Bract length 
                 3-5 mm 
               
               
                 Bract width 
                 2-3 mm 
               
               
                 Bract apex 
                 Caudate apex 
               
               
                 Bract base descriptors 
                 Rounded base 
               
               
                 Bract texture 
                 Smooth and covered with sticky trichomes 
               
               
                 Calyx shape 
                 No defined calyx 
               
               
                 Calyx color 
                 N/A 
               
               
                 Stigma shape 
                 Acute 
               
               
                 Stigma length 
                 5-7 mm 
               
               
                 Stigma width 
                 &lt;1 mm 
               
               
                 Stigma color 
                 140B 
               
               
                 Number of stigmas per  
                 2 
               
               
                 flower 
                   
               
               
                 Trichome shape 
                 Capitate-stalked glandular 
               
               
                 Trichome color 
                 NN155B 
               
               
                 Terminal bud shape 
                 Oblong 
               
               
                 Terminal inflorescence  
                 18-24 cm 
               
               
                 length 
                   
               
               
                 Terminal inflorescence  
                 7-10 cm 
               
               
                 diameter 
                   
               
               
                 Terminal bud color 
                 140A, 140B, and 140C 
               
               
                 Pedicel 
                 Absent 
               
               
                 Peduncle length 
                 1-8 mm 
               
               
                 Peduncle diameter 
                 2-3 mm 
               
               
                 Peduncle texture 
                 Lightly ribbed 
               
               
                 Peduncle color 
                 145A 
               
               
                 Staminate shape 
                 No staminate flowers produced naturally; 
               
               
                   
                 however, male flower (staminate) can be 
               
               
                   
                 induced with stress or ethylene-blocking 
               
               
                   
                 compounds 
               
               
                 Sepal color 
                 NA 
               
               
                 Pollen description 
                 NA 
               
               
                 Seed shape 
                 Striped, smooth and globular 
               
               
                 Seed size 
                 1.6 - 2.3 mm 
               
               
                 Petal description 
                 Apetalous 
               
               
                 Pistil number per flower 
                 one 
               
               
                 Pistil length 
                 10-12 mm 
               
               
                 Bracteole 
                 Not present 
               
               
                   
               
            
           
         
       
     
     Table 5 describes other characteristics of ‘PCT11204V’. 
     
       
         
           
               
               
             
               
                 TABLE 5 
               
               
                   
               
             
            
               
                 Time period of flowering/ 
                 10-12 weeks 
               
               
                 blooming 
                   
               
               
                 Proportion of hermaphrodite  
                 Lower (&lt;5%) in clones 
               
               
                 plants 
                   
               
               
                 Hardiness of plant 
                 Hardy to tolerate of warm and dry 
               
               
                   
                 conditions without showing stress. Not 
               
               
                   
                 tolerant to soil oversaturated with water for 
               
               
                   
                 long periods 
               
               
                   
               
            
           
         
       
     
     Chemical analyses were conducted using High Performance Liquid Chromatography to detect the cannabinoids described herein. Table 6 describes a chemotype and terpene analysis of ‘PCT11204V’, which was chemotyped by taking a sample from the main cola at day 83 after initiation of the 12:12 light cycle, which initiates flowering. Trichomes were 65% cloudy and 1% amber, indicative of full maturity at sampling. 
     
       
         
           
               
             
               
                 TABLE 6 
               
             
            
               
                   
               
               
                 Cannabinoid data for ‘PCT11204V’ (day 83 after flowering onset).  
               
            
           
           
               
               
            
               
                 Cannabinoid 
                 % wt 
               
               
                   
               
            
           
           
               
               
            
               
                 Tetrahydrocannabivarinic acid  
                 15.6 
               
               
                 (THCVA) 
                   
               
               
                 THCV 
                 0.28 
               
               
                 Total THCV 
                 140 
               
               
                 Cannabidivarinic acid (CBDVA) 
                 0.1 
               
               
                 CBDV 
                 &lt;LOD 
               
               
                 Total CBDV 
                 0.09 
               
               
                 Total THCV + Total CBDV (= Total  
                 14.0 
               
               
                 Varins) 
                   
               
               
                 Total THC + Total CBD (= Total 
                 11.9 
               
               
                 Cannabinoids) 
                   
               
               
                 Total Varins/Total Cannabinoids 
                 1.18 
               
               
                 Tetrahydrocannabinolic acid (THCA) 
                 13.3 
               
               
                 Delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol (D9-THC) 
                 0.2 
               
               
                 Total THC 
                 11.9 
               
               
                 Cannabidiolic acid (CBDA) 
                 &lt;LOD 
               
               
                 CBD 
                 &lt;LOD 
               
               
                 Total CBD 
                 &lt;LOD 
               
               
                 THC:CBD ratio 
                 Undefined value due to null  
               
               
                   
                 value in denominator 
               
               
                 beta-myrcene 
                 0.9-2.8% 
               
               
                 beta-caryophyllene 
                 0.3-0.5% 
               
               
                 ocimene 
                 0.3-0.8% 
               
               
                 bisabolol 
                 0.08-0.14% 
               
               
                 alpha-humulene 
                 0.08-0.15% 
               
               
                   
               
               
                 “&lt;LOD” refers to an undetectable analyte that is below the limit of detection.