# Improved Biomass Production and Secondary Metabolism: A Critical Review of Grafting in Cannabis sativa

## TL;DR

This paper reviews how grafting could improve Cannabis sativa's biomass and medicinal compound production.

## Contribution

The paper highlights recent studies showing grafting's potential in Cannabis, a practice not yet used commercially.

## Key findings

- Grafting can improve Cannabis biomass yield and secondary metabolite production.
- Only three recent studies have explored grafting in Cannabis, indicating its underexplored potential.
- Grafting offers a way to combine desirable traits from different Cannabis plants.

## Abstract

Cannabis sativa L. is a versatile plant with applications in various sectors such as agriculture, medicine, food, and cosmetics. The therapeutic properties of cannabis are often linked to its secondary compounds. The worldwide cannabis market is undergoing swift changes due to varying legal frameworks. Medicinal cannabis (as a heterozygous and dioecious species) is distinct from most annual crops grown in controlled environments, typically propagated through stem cutting rather than seeds to ensure genetic uniformity. Consequently, as with any commercially cultivated crop, biomass yield plays a crucial role in overall productivity. The key factors involved in cultivation conditions, such as successful root establishment, stress tolerance, and the production cycle duration, are critical for safeguarding, improving, and optimizing plant yield. Grafting is a long-established horticultural practice that mechanically joins the scion and rootstock of distinct genetic origins by merging their vascular systems. This approach can mitigate undesirable traits by leveraging the strengths of particular plants, proving beneficial to various applications. Grafting is not used commercially in Cannabis. Only three very recent investigations suggest that grafting holds significant promise for enhancing both the agronomic and medicinal potential of Cannabis. This review critically examines the latest advancements in cannabis grafting and explores prospects for improving biomass (stem, root, flower, etc.) yield and secondary metabolite production.