Chiang Mai Journal of Science

     Aldehyde dehydrogenases (ALDHs) constitute a diverse family of enzymes that catalyze the oxidation of aldehyde substrates into their respective non-toxic carboxylic acids. ALDHs play a pivotal role in the plant response to various environmental stresses and represent promising genetic targets for enhancing plant adaptation. This study aims to identify the ALDHs in the genome of Cannabis sativa L. and perform a comprehensive bioinformatics analysis. In Cannabis sativa L., we identified a total of 24 ALDH genes (CsALDHs), which were classified into ten subfamilies. The amino acid sequences, molecular weights, charges, and isoelectric points of the CsALDH proteins exhibited considerable variation. Most proteins were predicted to localize in the cytoplasm, chloroplasts, and mitochondria. Members within the same subfamily shared similar tertiary structures. No segmental duplications were detected; however, three tandem duplication pairs were identified (Table 2), all of which were under purifying selection pressure. In addition, evolutionary covariance was observed among Cannabis sativa L., Glycine max, Arabidopsis thaliana, Solanum lycopersicum, and Malus domestica. The promoter regions of the CsALDH genes contained hormone-responsive elements and multiple abiotic stress-related cis-regulatory elements. Furthermore, transcriptomic analysis of two Cannabis sativa cultivars (Longdama No. 4/6) showed cultivar-specific CsALDH expression, with most genes highly expressed in Longdama No. 6. GO-KEGG enrichment indicated CsALDH functions in cellular aldehyde metabolism, abiotic stress responses, and amino acid metabolism-related pathways. This study establishes a foundational framework for further functional characterization of the CsALDH gene family and elucidates their potential roles in Cannabis sativa L. development. The findings provide a theoretical basis for harnessing ALDH genes to enhance medicinal Cannabis sativa L. resources.