Gibberellin pathway remodeling accompanies ethylene-driven sex reversal in Cannabis sativa.

Roy J.; Monthony A.; Torkamaneh D. · Frontiers in plant science · 2026

**Background & Methods** This review study reconstructed the gibberellin (GA) pathway in Cannabis sativa using orthology-based bioinformatic searches and profiled GA-related gene expression during chemically induced sex reversal. Transcriptomic analyses were conducted across three timepoints: vegetative baseline (day 0), early post-treatment leaves (day 1), and developing flowers (day 14) in both XX and XY cannabis plants. **Key Findings** • Bioinformatic searches identified 50 putative GA-related genes distributed across the cannabis genome, with 11 genes located on the X chromosome, including six in the non-recombining region, suggesting potential involvement in sex determination mechanisms. • Early transcriptomic responses (day 1) were minimal, limited to downregulation of CsGA3ox1 in ethephon-treated XY plants and CsGASA1 in STS-treated XX plants, indicating initial pathway perturbation prior to phenotypic changes. • By day 14, sex reversal was accompanied by substantial remodeling of GA-related gene expression, including differential regulation of CsGA1, multiple GA20ox orthologs, CsGID1B, CsSLY2, and GASA genes, demonstrating broad transcriptional restructuring associated with altered floral phenotype. **Dosage & Administration** Chemical treatments used were ethephon (to inhibit ethylene, inducing male flowers in XX plants) and STS (to promote ethylene release, inducing female flowers in XY plants). Specific doses were not reported in the abstract. **Safety & Adverse Effects** Not reported. **Evidence Quality** This is a review-level study based on computational and transcriptomic analyses rather than a clinical trial. Limitations include: (1) transcriptomic data are correlative rather than mechanistically causal; (2) findings are restricted to expression patterns and do not establish functional roles of identified genes; (3) the study does not directly measure gibberellin hormone levels or downstream phenotypic outcomes; (4) results are specific to cannabis and may not generalize to other dioecious plants. The evidence represents foundational molecular biology research providing moderate-quality insights into potential GA pathway involvement in cannabis sex determination, suitable for hypothesis generation but requiring functional validation studies before clinical application.

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