Metabolomics and Transcriptomic Analysis Revealed the Mechanism of Yeast Extract Inducing and Regulating the Synthesis of Terpenoids in Hemp Adventitious Roots

Hemp has a limited planting scope and low and unstable content of nonpsychogenic cannabinoids, and there is a lack of transcriptional regulation research. The mechanism of yeast extract (YE) regulating the synthesis of nonpsychotropic cannabinoids and other terpenoids was clarified through the integration of plant biotechnology and omics. YE (400 mg/L, 96 h) influenced the defense system and enhanced antioxidant activity in hemp adventitious roots (HARs). YE increased cannabinol, tanshinone IIA, dihydrotanshinone I, and trijuganone B contents in HARs from the bioreactor by 231.52%, 205.86%, 300.55%, and 192.59%, respectively. 106 genes and 32 transcription factor families cooperatively regulated terpenoid synthesis. Meanwhile, CsMYC02 and CsMYC12 were speculated to up-regulate the expression of CsDXS2, CsPT5, and CsCBDAS1 within this pathway. This study provides an efficient and green strategy for nonpsychoactive cannabinoid production and enriches the potential functions of the MYC family in response to YE induction, regulating terpenoid synthesis.