Quantitative Estimation of Promoter Activity in Cannabis Sativa Using Agroinfiltration-Based Transient Gene Expression

To properly assess promoter activity, which is critical for understanding biosynthetic pathways in different plant species, we use agroinfiltration-based transient gene expression assay. We compare the activity of several known promoters in Nicotiana benthamiana with their activity in Cannabis sativa (both hemp and medicinal cannabis), which has attracted much attention in recent years for its industrial, medicinal, and recreational properties. Here we describe an optimized protocol for transient expression in Cannabis combined with a ratiometric GUS reporter system that allows more accurate evaluation of promoter activity and reduces the effects of variable infiltration efficiency.