Transcriptomic insights into unisexual flower development in Cannabis sativa: conserved gene networks and perianth identity in male flowers

Transcriptomic insights into unisexual flower development in Cannabis sativa: conserved gene networks and perianth identity in male flowers | Research Square window.SnipcartSettings = { analytics: { enabled: false } }; (function() { var accessVector = localStorage.getItem('access_vector') || ''; window.dataLayer = window.dataLayer || []; if (accessVector) { window.dataLayer.push({ user: { profile: { profileInfo: { snid: accessVector } } } }); } })(); (function(w,d,s,l,i){w[l]=w[l]||[];w[l].push({'gtm.start':new Date().getTime(),event:'gtm.js'});var f=d.getElementsByTagName(s)[0],j=d.createElement(s),dl=l!='dataLayer'?'&l='+l:'';j.async=true;j.src='https://www.googletagmanager.com/gtm.js?id='+i+dl;f.parentNode.insertBefore(j,f);})(window,document,'script','dataLayer','GTM-K279D39R'); Browse Preprints In Review Journals COVID-19 Preprints AJE Video Bytes Research Tools Research Promotion AJE Professional Editing AJE Rubriq About Preprint Platform In Review Editorial Policies Our Team Advisory Board Help Center Sign In Submit a Preprint Cite Share Download PDF Research Article Transcriptomic insights into unisexual flower development in Cannabis sativa: conserved gene networks and perianth identity in male flowers Orly Lavie, Avichay Smadga, Isaac Elharar, Uri Moshe, Adi Faigenboim, and 4 more This is a preprint; it has not been peer reviewed by a journal. https://doi.org/ 10.21203/rs.3.rs-8078345/v1 This work is licensed under a CC BY 4.0 License Status: Published Journal Publication published 29 Mar, 2026 Read the published version in BMC Plant Biology → Version 1 posted 17 You are reading this latest preprint version Abstract Background: Cannabis sativa , a dioecious species characterized by striking sexual dimorphism and exceptional sexual plasticity, presents a powerful model for exploring floral development and the evolution of dioecy. The unique male and female flowers each feature a single perianth whorl that differs significantly in structure and developmental trajectory, raising key questions about organ identity and developmental regulation that remain largely unresolved. Results: We demonstrate that male flowers undergo more extensive transcriptional reprogramming than female flowers, suggesting a more complex developmental trajectory. Analysis of MADS-box gene expression reveals that, despite sexual dimorphism and structural reduction, both sexes conform to the canonical ABCDE model of floral organ identity, indicating unisexual flower development relies on conserved regulatory networks. Critically, by integrating molecular and morphological evidence, we demonstrate that the male perianth exhibits petal-like identity, addressing a longstanding uncertainty in Cannabis organ morphology. Conclusions: This study provides molecular and morphological evidence strongly suggesting that the male Cannabis perianth possesses petaloid characteristics, offering a new perspective on a key floral trait. Our findings demonstrate that despite structural reduction and unisexual development, Cannabis employs conserved ABCDE regulatory networks, suggesting that B-class genes link petal and stamen development. This work establishes a developmental-genetic framework for understanding dioecy evolution and highlights how wind pollination may drive perianth reduction while maintaining underlying genetic programs. MADS-box genes Dioecy Floral development ABCD model PISTILLATA Perianth identity Sexual plasticity B-class genes Petals (corolla) Petal evolution Full Text Additional Declarations No competing interests reported. Supplementary Files SupplementTables.xlsx Supplementinformation.docx Cite Share Download PDF Status: Published Journal Publication published 29 Mar, 2026 Read the published version in BMC Plant Biology → Version 1 posted Editorial decision: Revision requested 20 Jan, 2026 Reviews received at journal 15 Jan, 2026 Reviews received at journal 13 Jan, 2026 Reviews received at journal 02 Jan, 2026 Reviewers agreed at journal 30 Dec, 2025 Reviewers agreed at journal 28 Dec, 2025 Reviewers agreed at journal 27 Dec, 2025 Reviews received at journal 27 Dec, 2025 Reviewers agreed at journal 25 Dec, 2025 Reviewers agreed at journal 08 Dec, 2025 Reviewers agreed at journal 04 Dec, 2025 Reviewers agreed at journal 02 Dec, 2025 Reviewers invited by journal 02 Dec, 2025 Editor assigned by journal 02 Dec, 2025 Editor invited by journal 24 Nov, 2025 Submission checks completed at journal 20 Nov, 2025 First submitted to journal 20 Nov, 2025 You are reading this latest preprint version Research Square lets you share your work early, gain feedback from the community, and start making changes to your manuscript prior to peer review in a journal. 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Also discoverable on Platform About Our Team In Review Editorial Policies Advisory Board Help Center Resources Author Services Accessibility API Access RSS feed Manage Cookie Preferences © Research Square 2026 | ISSN 2693-5015 (online) Privacy Policy Terms of Service Do Not Sell My Personal Information {"props":{"pageProps":{"initialData":{"identity":"rs-8078345","acceptedTermsAndConditions":true,"allowDirectSubmit":false,"archivedVersions":[],"articleType":"Research Article","associatedPublications":[],"authors":[{"id":554447334,"identity":"d3abc4cc-c6ab-44d8-bea9-9cffe8f28c72","order_by":0,"name":"Orly Lavie","email":"","orcid":"","institution":"Hebrew University of Jerusalem","correspondingAuthor":false,"prefix":"","firstName":"Orly","middleName":"","lastName":"Lavie","suffix":""},{"id":554447335,"identity":"2e3e1e6f-52ce-42e2-9d20-537babe11a09","order_by":1,"name":"Avichay Smadga","email":"","orcid":"","institution":"Hebrew University of 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The unique male and female flowers each feature a single perianth whorl that differs significantly in structure and developmental trajectory, raising key questions about organ identity and developmental regulation that remain largely unresolved.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eResults:\u003c/strong\u003e We demonstrate that male flowers undergo more extensive transcriptional reprogramming than female flowers, suggesting a more complex developmental trajectory. Analysis of MADS-box gene expression reveals that, despite sexual dimorphism and structural reduction, both sexes conform to the canonical ABCDE model of floral organ identity, indicating unisexual flower development relies on conserved regulatory networks. Critically, by integrating molecular and morphological evidence, we demonstrate that the male perianth exhibits petal-like identity, addressing a longstanding uncertainty in \u003cem\u003eCannabis\u003c/em\u003eorgan morphology.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eConclusions:\u003c/strong\u003e This study provides molecular and morphological evidence strongly suggesting that the male \u003cem\u003eCannabis\u003c/em\u003e perianth possesses petaloid characteristics, offering a new perspective on a key floral trait. Our findings demonstrate that despite structural reduction and unisexual development, \u003cem\u003eCannabis\u003c/em\u003e employs conserved ABCDE regulatory networks, suggesting that B-class genes link petal and stamen development. This work establishes a developmental-genetic framework for understanding dioecy evolution and highlights how wind pollination may drive perianth reduction while maintaining underlying genetic programs.\u003c/p\u003e","manuscriptTitle":"Transcriptomic insights into unisexual flower development in Cannabis sativa: conserved gene networks and perianth identity in male flowers","msid":"","msnumber":"","nonDraftVersions":[{"code":1,"date":"2025-12-04 07:05:20","doi":"10.21203/rs.3.rs-8078345/v1","editorialEvents":[{"type":"communityComments","content":0},{"type":"decision","content":"Revision requested","date":"2026-01-20T14:35:03+00:00","index":"","fulltext":""},{"type":"editorInvitedReview","content":"","date":"2026-01-15T10:22:05+00:00","index":"hide","fulltext":""},{"type":"editorInvitedReview","content":"","date":"2026-01-13T13:01:11+00:00","index":"hide","fulltext":""},{"type":"editorInvitedReview","content":"","date":"2026-01-02T20:25:48+00:00","index":"hide","fulltext":""},{"type":"reviewerAgreed","content":"4726331188822588941186481987882676231","date":"2025-12-30T13:49:10+00:00","index":"hide","fulltext":""},{"type":"reviewerAgreed","content":"111465610958813490846982542757149957624","date":"2025-12-28T07:45:38+00:00","index":"hide","fulltext":""},{"type":"reviewerAgreed","content":"205532911174640620226872525028887389447","date":"2025-12-27T17:13:51+00:00","index":"hide","fulltext":""},{"type":"editorInvitedReview","content":"","date":"2025-12-27T07:15:58+00:00","index":"hide","fulltext":""},{"type":"reviewerAgreed","content":"150629256214461341585767871154007241915","date":"2025-12-25T15:56:03+00:00","index":"hide","fulltext":""},{"type":"reviewerAgreed","content":"285643125410361853374849855359548895980","date":"2025-12-09T01:09:00+00:00","index":"hide","fulltext":""},{"type":"reviewerAgreed","content":"174282121397839495162011932194496286820","date":"2025-12-05T01:13:51+00:00","index":"hide","fulltext":""},{"type":"reviewerAgreed","content":"158909039036641692972398921862647569291","date":"2025-12-02T19:43:38+00:00","index":"hide","fulltext":""},{"type":"reviewersInvited","content":"","date":"2025-12-02T19:03:58+00:00","index":"","fulltext":""},{"type":"editorAssigned","content":"","date":"2025-12-02T17:19:47+00:00","index":"","fulltext":""},{"type":"editorInvited","content":"","date":"2025-11-24T16:42:28+00:00","index":"","fulltext":""},{"type":"checksComplete","content":"","date":"2025-11-20T13:24:41+00:00","index":"","fulltext":""},{"type":"submitted","content":"BMC Plant Biology","date":"2025-11-20T13:21:49+00:00","index":"","fulltext":""}],"status":"published","journal":{"display":true,"email":"[email protected]","identity":"bmc-plant-biology","isNatureJournal":false,"hasQc":true,"allowDirectSubmit":false,"externalIdentity":"pbio","sideBox":"Learn more about [BMC Plant Biology](http://bmcplantbiol.biomedcentral.com/)","snPcode":"","submissionUrl":"https://www.editorialmanager.com/pbio/default.aspx","title":"BMC Plant Biology","twitterHandle":"BMC_series","acdcEnabled":true,"dfaEnabled":false,"editorialSystem":"em","reportingPortfolio":"BMC Series","inReviewEnabled":true,"inReviewRevisionsEnabled":true}}],"origin":"","ownerIdentity":"330998bb-fb4c-4286-b642-5113d7d1e343","owner":[],"postedDate":"December 4th, 2025","published":true,"recentEditorialEvents":[],"rejectedJournal":[],"revision":"","amendment":"","status":"published-in-journal","subjectAreas":[],"tags":[],"updatedAt":"2026-03-30T16:16:57+00:00","versionOfRecord":{"articleIdentity":"rs-8078345","link":"https://doi.org/10.1186/s12870-026-08639-y","journal":{"identity":"bmc-plant-biology","isVorOnly":false,"title":"BMC Plant Biology"},"publishedOn":"2026-03-29 16:08:45","publishedOnDateReadable":"March 29th, 2026"},"versionCreatedAt":"2025-12-04 07:05:20","video":"","vorDoi":"10.1186/s12870-026-08639-y","vorDoiUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1186/s12870-026-08639-y","workflowStages":[]},"version":"v1","identity":"rs-8078345","journalConfig":"researchsquare"},"__N_SSP":true},"page":"/article/[identity]/[[...version]]","query":{"redirect":"/article/rs-8078345","identity":"rs-8078345","version":["v1"]},"buildId":"8U1c8b4HqxoKbykW_rLl7","isFallback":false,"isExperimentalCompile":false,"dynamicIds":[84888],"gssp":true,"scriptLoader":[]}