Study: Endophytic Fungus From Cannabis Shown to Produce CBD

The study, published in the South African Journal of Botany, details the isolation of an endophytic fungal strain known as RF-1 from the upper leaves of Cannabis sativa during its flowering stage. Through morphological and genetic analysis, the team determined that RF-1 belongs to the Rhodosporidiobolus genus. Laboratory experiments were then conducted to test how different growth conditions influenced the fungus’s ability to produce CBD. Results showed that RF-1 grew best in a Murashige and Skoog (MS) medium with 3% sucrose at a pH between 5 and 7. The same conditions, particularly at pH 7, also yielded the highest CBD output. The researchers noted that the factors promoting biomass accumulation were the same ones that optimized CBD synthesis, suggesting an efficient pathway for production.

CBD is currently obtained almost exclusively through extraction from cannabis plants, a process often affected by seasonal and environmental variables. By contrast, cultivating CBD-producing fungi could allow for large-scale, controlled production without relying solely on plant harvests, potentially reducing costs and easing pressure on cultivation resources.

The authors conclude that RF-1’s ability to synthesize CBD offers a promising new perspective for industrial CBD manufacturing and could pave the way for broader applications of the cannabinoid in medicine and wellness products.