Unraveling Cross-Cellular Communication in Cannabis sativa Sex Determination: A Network Ontology Transcript Annotation (Nota) Analysis

Abstract Cannabis sativa L. (marijuana, hemp) is a dioecious angiosperm species currently evolving sex chromosomes. Genetic mechanisms, primarily controlled by an XY chromosome system, appear to dictate sex expression in C. sativa. However, sexual expression is also governed by the interplay of hormone regulatory gene networks, influenced by both genetic and environmental factors. Within the species, some populations exhibit dioecy, monoecy, or a gradient of both. Dioecious individuals produce exclusively male or female flowers, while monoecious plants bear both male