Indicas Grow & Experimenting Genetics Part II - Winter Indoor Organic Grow

[Danishoes21]

OBSERBATIONS:

After the first week of the month, still at 13/11 photoperiod, full UBV exposure. All the plants seems to be heavy pre flowering, when I refer as to "pre flower" is any photoperiod different than 12/12 that still makes the plant show visible reproductive organs (pistils and stamens). Despite that these plants look like in flower... I still believe, that the one hour missing on the dark period (11), still stops the plants flowering hormones from fully building up. Im forcing them to stay in this pre floral stage by prolonging 3 more weeks this 13/11 photoperiod.

Im really looking forward to flip them 12/12 and see if the really flower and how fast.
Another interesting detail the early formation of trichomes seems to be from top to bottom of the plant, very equally developed all over the plant. I could only attribute this to the UVB lights.
I did some LST on my selected Phenos so the can benefit from better light penetration.

All the Phenos seem to slowly stopped pushing out fan leaves, now back to the same pattern of 1-3 leaflet leaves, with a lot of pistils development.
The Bleu Berry seems to be doing fine, but very low leaf production, seems no more new leaves for this plant, just small calyxes with pistils..

The plants are watered on a daily basis with a low amount of water (250ml), the big watering with nutrients is done mid month and end of the month. For next Sunday is big watering day, so most definitely Im going to let them dry out as must as possible.

 

[Danishoes21]

they look good. I think your new batch of plants are going to be very potent

Thanks b. Im really hopping for them to be top grade meds. The wait is long but I can't complain so far they a proving them selfs. I still don't understand what s the deal with the blue berry...

 

[Danishoes21]

Jan/08/2015

Feb/09/2015

Just one month has passed and such a difference.

 

[Danishoes21]

Went to play around with the camera today after routine inspection. Relaxed a little enjoying the garden.

My two best Phenos.

Training LST results.

I can't deny Im pretty excited with this grow. I always had a hard time growing indoors. So far Im blessed. And the research is going very well, so far a lot of changes, Im just crossing my fingers they don't mutate all funky like the Blue Berry.

 

[SweetSue]

All caught up danishoes. That blueberry is breaking my heart. You want desperately to believe she's ok, but that is one sick plant. Whether it's genetics or she picked up something in the beginning with the watering issue or whatever, she is sick dani. I'm not sure I would risk smoking her at all. Her erratic flowering and immature trichomes speak loudly of illness.

If it were me, I'd rethink the soil mix. My gut says there's something either missing or out of balance, but being a novice myself, I really couldn't do you any service in guessing. I feel for her.

I want to thank you for the incredible read your journal was. I feel as though I've just completed a mini seminar - one of my favorite Internet pasttimes. I'm enthralled with your light experiment. We have an exciting future ahead as the LEDs become more refined.

The rest of the brood appear to be doing quite well, even with your mad-scientist bent.

It will be interesting to see how they are doing by the time you flip them. The very first plant I adopted we simply threw up under the blue spectrum lights we had up over my husband's collection of carnivorous plants. I believe at the time they were on a 15/9 light schedule and the cannabis flowered. I knew less than nothing about growing cannabis so it took me a while to realize she needed 12/12 light at that point. My current autos actually began to show light stress every day after 14 hours of an 18/6 after about five weeks from seed, right about the time they really kicked into flowering. They didn't settle down until I had gradually reduced their light to the current 16/8 schedule. They almost sighed in relief at that point. Next grow I'll try to be more alert and spare them the stress.

You taught me so much this last week danishoes. Once again, thank you. I wish I could have been more optimistic about Blueberry.

 

[Danishoes21]

All caught up danishoes. That blueberry is breaking my heart. You want desperately to believe she's ok, but that is one sick plant. Whether it's genetics or she picked up something in the beginning with the watering issue or whatever, she is sick dani. I'm not sure I would risk smoking her at all. Her erratic flowering and immature trichomes speak loudly of illness.

If it were me, I'd rethink the soil mix. My gut says there's something either missing or out of balance, but being a novice myself, I really couldn't do you any service in guessing. I feel for her.

Yeah this plant is hurt, I really don't know at what point I totally lost control, she started amazing... I think it was a mistake I made obviously the plant is way smarter than me, I guess I overwatered, and the low temperatures I have then under did a lock out of some sort, add to that the light schedule Im forcing this plants, so I understand the Blue Berry became a Guinea pig in this experiment. For the risks of smoking her, yeah I wouldn't smoke something rotten, and If I see her affecting the others health I would get her out. I still have hope she is going to snap out it when I put them under 12/12, thats the other part of the experiment, in fact if these plants are still not flowering they definitely will start as soon as 12/12 hits the clock. But on the other hand they could be already flowering and I don't know? They are under "non flowering" photoperiods since the beginning (14/10, 13/11 current).

I want to thank you for the incredible read your journal was. I feel as though I've just completed a mini seminar - one of my favorite Internet pasttimes. I'm enthralled with your light experiment. We have an exciting future ahead as the LEDs become more refined.

The rest of the brood appear to be doing quite well, even with your mad-scientist bent.

It will be interesting to see how they are doing by the time you flip them. The very first plant I adopted we simply threw up under the blue spectrum lights we had up over my husband's collection of carnivorous plants. I believe at the time they were on a 15/9 light schedule and the cannabis flowered. I knew less than nothing about growing cannabis so it took me a while to realize she needed 12/12 light at that point. My current autos actually began to show light stress every day after 14 hours of an 18/6 after about five weeks from seed, right about the time they really kicked into flowering. They didn't settle down until I had gradually reduced their light to the current 16/8 schedule. They almost sighed in relief at that point. Next grow I'll try to be more alert and spare them the stress.

You taught me so much this last week danishoes. Once again, thank you. I wish I could have been more optimistic about Blueberry.

Im glad you enjoyed the reading, and Its flattering to know that I sparkle some curiosity with this experiment. Im very open for new ideas and perspectives and I encourage growers all the time to comment on what they think is right or wrong, I mean after all we are all here feeding of each others knowledge by sharing ideas openly so we can all accomplish the same goal: Growing Cannabis and growing it good, clean, efficiently, and safely. And while at it raising awareness about the true healing power of the Cannabinoid content in this plants, so there is so much research to do about this plant, gee I guess in our own little way we are all researchers because we all grow this magical plant.

BTW your autos are huge! I grew one a year ago and was not even half the size of yours.

 

[SweetSue]

Thank you danishoes. The girls do shine. It's that soil mix. Almost like magic my soil community has made this grow a joy to be part of.

 

[Danishoes21]

Wanted to drop this vid here, Dj short talks about flowering photoperiods. Check it out

 

[Danishoes21]

PHENO #3 (First to show pistils)

PHENO #1 (Best pheno)

PHENO #7 (Sativa dominant traits)

PHENO #6 (Suspected "LA Confidential")

She finally showed pistils, there is something about this particular traits I really want, but in general its not the best plant to take genetics from super slow development and very short. I wish she would have been a strong female.

OBSERVATIONS: This is todays update, they were watered using molasses and Jacks Classics Nutrient solution (10-30-20), misted, carefully inspected for unwanted guests, retrained for better light penetration. A lot of trichomes are taking over from top to bottom, terpenes start to take over the tent very critic, fruity and skunky pungent smells. These girls are more than ready for 12/12 only two more weeks to set them free. I really like how they are all taking different directions in their Pheno expressions, they are really showing their genetics, and considering these are mostly Sativa dominants, I managed to keep them in control they are not all over the place. My conclusions by looking at them is pheno #3 and on other small one in the middle are the Mexican Mystery strain, then pheno #1, #7, and the last to show pistils are all different phenos from the Jamaican Unknown strain. To understand where these seeds come from and way they are unknown strains to me, you have to go back in to my early grows, I travel to Mexico a couple years ago and smoked some herb that had seeds and brought them back, did the same while in Jamaica smoked some of the finest herbs and finger hash and brought back seeds from the buds, since last year I have been playing around with these seeds. Now after growing and smoking these strains I can tell they aren't pure sativa but instead Sativa dominant hybrids with a high grade taste and high.

For the pollination of these ladies I will use a pollen from last years winter grow, I hope its still "alive" its been in my freezer for a year now, and the genetics behind this pollen is from a Mexican Mystery strain Male that I stressed out and went hermie like full in forming buds and auto pollinating itself, I managed to pick some of this pollen and did my first test to see if In fact it would produce "feminized" seeds, the first round of plants gave positive results towards feminized seeds. I will retry the same experiment with these Phenos. Now for the Mexican Mystery strain is gonna be particularly interesting because she is gonna be pollinated with the same genetic background.

 

[Danishoes21]

Blue Berry (still fighting she doesn't give up)

Random shots

 

[Danishoes21]

Some more information here.

 

[SweetSue]

Thanks danishoes, that was interesting.

I'll to watch it again though. New territory for me and he tosses it out like its daily stuff for all of us.

 

[Danishoes21]

Yeah its uncharted territory for most of us, we have been told all this time to get ride of males and hermies... but now you got some of the best breeders talking about genes are more likely to come from male plants (like trichomes and resin production) rather than beautiful females, and that stressful methods can produce hermaphroditic cannabis plants which is a rare phenomenon in plants, today we know that is how some breeders use to make feminized seeds, which are just a higher probability on the offspring to have female predominance.

I find it very interesting, specially for my case where I have been dealing with hermies since last year. We just have to think outside the box and we can discover a whole new range of things about this plant.

If these allegations are right or wrong, we just have to experiment and see, most of the people talking about Cannabis most def are people that have been growing the plant for years and years, and by just observing changes they noticed all this little curious things happen.

 

[SweetSue]

Communities like this sharing information in the virtual world we've created are changing our perceptions. I have great admiration for the experimental spirit that drives so many grows. Wasn't it just yesterday that they told us autos had to be grown 18/6, completely unstressed? We have growers here that ignored that and proved them wrong. Your information on photo periods changed the schedule I use for my own grow. Light Addict has inspired many a flux and influenced a whole new generation of growers. So many growers thinking outside the box. It's a whole new world. We're all better for it, IMHO.

 

[Danishoes21]

Communities like this sharing information in the virtual world we've created are changing our perceptions. I have great admiration for the experimental spirit that drives so many grows. Wasn't it just yesterday that they told us autos had to be grown 18/6, completely unstressed? We have growers here that ignored that and proved them wrong. Your information on photo periods changed the schedule I use for my own grow. Light Addict has inspired many a flux and influenced a whole new generation of growers. So many growers thinking outside the box. It's a whole new world. We're all better for it, IMHO.

Im pretty amazed about this community in particular. There is tons literally tons of information from the early days back in 2005 2008 even 2010... and many others that grow since the 90's... most of the questions had been asked before but no one dare to answer less experiment. We all had our eyes on the price (max yield) but nowadays since Cannabis has reached the mayor Labs in the world, now we talk in technical terms, more and more you hear about Terpenes, Flavonoids, Cannabinoids, new photoperiods, new forms of training (flux), we talk about different types of trichomes (glandular, non glandular) etc. For me it became a passion growing Cannabis, started as a hobby, now I make sure my meds are grade A, and always keeping it organic.

Im a natural born skeptic myself, even if some experienced growers tell me "its not gonna happen" I still want to do it and find out myself why it's not happening. So next time someone asks me, I can be certain that my answer is based on my own experience.

The proof is here Cannabis does flower at a photoperiod diferent than 12/12. 13/11 works 14/10 worked. How you interpret that and better use it for your grows, is what makes the difference.

One other thing I find curious is that its been told for many years that there is only one type of Cannabis plant being the Sativa genetics, and that a Chemotype variation (caused by environmental changes) gave birth to the Indica traits, and later on we discovered Ruderalis. So photoperiods in my understanding are the backbone of the genetics modification of Cannabis strains. Thats my 2 cents.

 

[Danishoes21]

More information Sue, hope its a good read.

"Chemical ecology of Cannabis

David W. Pate

International Hemp Association, Postbus 75007,
1070 AA Amsterdam, The Netherlands

Pate, D.W., 1994. Chemical ecology of Cannabis. Journal of the International Hemp Association 2: 29, 32-37.

The production of cannabinoids and their associated terpenes in Cannabis is subject to environmental influences as well as hereditary determinants. Their biosynthesis occurs in specialized glands populating the surface of all aerial structures of the plant. These compounds apparently serve as defensive agents in a variety of antidessication, antimicrobial, antifeedant and UV-B pigmentation roles. In addition, the more intense ambient UV-B of the tropics, in combination with the UV-B lability of cannabidiol, may have influenced the evolution of an alternative biogenetic route from cannabigerol to tetrahydrocannabinol in some varieties.


Figure 1. Resin-producing stalked glandular trichome (Briosi and Tognini 1894).

Introduction

Cannabis may have been the first cultivated plant. Records indicate use of this crop for paper, textiles, food and medicine throughout human history (Abel 1980). It is a dioecious annual with rather distinctive palmate leaves, usually composed of an odd number of leaflets. Best growth occurs on recently disturbed sites of high soil nitrogen content, so it is commonly found as a persistent weed at the edge of cultivated fields. Mature height ranges from 1 to 5 meters, according to environmental and hereditary dictates. Typically, the male plant is somewhat taller and more obviously flowered. These flowers have five yellowish tepals, and five anthers that hang pendulously at maturity, dispersing their pollen to the wind. The female plant exhibits a more robust appearance due to its shorter branches and dense growth of leaves and flower-associated bracts. Its double-styled flower possesses only a thin, closely adherent perianth, but is further protected by enclosure in a cuplike bracteole (i.e., perigonal bract), subtended by a usually monophyllous leaflet. A single achene is produced per flower and shed or dispersed as a result of bird predation. The life cycle of the male is completed soon after anthesis, but the female survives until full seed ripeness.

Cannabis seems a virtual factory for the production of secondary metabolic compounds. A variety of alkanes have been identified (Adams, Jr. and Jones 1973, De Zeeuw et al. 1973b, Mobarak et al. 1974a & 1974b), as well as nitrogenous compounds (ElSohly and Turner 1976, Hanus 1975b), flavonoids (Gellert et al. 1974, Paris et al. 1975b, Paris and Paris 1973) and other miscellaneous compounds (Hanus 1976a & 1976b). Terpenes appear in abundance (Hanus 1975a, Hendricks et al. 1975) and contribute to the characteristic odor of the plant (Hood et al. 1973) and some of its crude preparations, such as hashish. The compounds which comprise the active drug ingredients are apparently unique to this genus and are termed cannabinoids. Cannabinoids were originally thought to exist as the phenolic compounds, but later research (Fetterman et al. 1971a, Masoud and Doorenbos 1973, Small and Beckstead 1973, Turner et al. 1973b) has indicated their existence predominantly in the form of carboxylic acids which decarboxylate readily with time (Masoud and Doorenbos 1973, Turner et al. 1973b), upon heating (De Zeeuw et al. 1972a, Kimura and Okamoto 1970) or in alkaline conditions (Grlic and Andrec 1961, Masoud and Doorenboos 1973). There are over 60 of these type compounds present in the plant (Turner et al. 1980).

Much has been published concerning the influence of heredity on cannabinoid production (e.g., Fetterman et al. 1971b, Small and Beckstead 1973), but ecological factors have long been thought to have an important influence by stressing the Cannabis plant (Bouquet 1950). The resultant increased biosynthesis of the cannabinoid and terpene containing resin, in most cases, seems likely of advantage to the organism in adapting it to a variety of survival-threatening situations. This work reviews these biotic and abiotic challenges and speculates on the utility of Cannabis resin to the plant.

Anatomical distribution and biogenesis of the cannabinoids

The major sites of cannabinoid production appear to be epidermal glands (Fairbairn 1972, Hammond and Mahlberg 1973, Lanyon et al. 1981, Malingre et al. 1975) which exhibit a marked variation in size, shape and population density, depending on the anatomical locale examined. While there are no published reports of glands present on root surfaces, most of the aerial parts possess them, along with non-glandular trichomes (De Pasquale et al. 1974). These epidermal glands seem to fall into two broad categories: stalked and sessile. The stalked gland (Fig. 1, front page) can consist of a single cell or small group of cells arranged in a rosette on a single or multicellular pedestal. Lack of thorough ontogenetic study has led to the speculation that some of this variation may be attributable to observation of various developmental stages (Ledbetter and Krikorian 1975). The sessile gland possesses no stalk and has secretory cells located at or below the epidermal surface (Fairbairn 1972). In either case, the glandular cells are covered with a "sheath" under which the resins are secreted via vesicles (Mahlberg and Kim 1992). This sheath consists of a cuticle that coats a polysaccharide layer (presumed cellulose) originating from the primary cell wall (Hammond and Mahlberg 1978). The resins accumulate until the sheath bulges away from the secretory cells, forming a spheroid structure. The resin is then released by rupture of the membrane or through pores in its surface (De Pasquale 1974). The cannabinoid content of each plant part varies, paralleling observable gland distribution (Fetterman et al. 1971, Honma et al. 1971a & 1971b, Kimura and Okamoto 1970, Ohlsson et al. 1971, Ono et al. 1972), although Turner et al. (1978) have disagreed. Roots contain only trace amounts. Stalks, branches and twigs have greater quantities, although not as much as leaf material. Vegetative leaf contains varying quantities depending on its position on the plant: lower leaves possessing less and upper ones more. Leaf glands are most dense on the abaxial (underside) surface. The greatest amount of cannabinoids is found in the new growth near each apical tip (Kimura and Okamoto 1970, Steinberg et al. 1975), although Ono et al. (1972) seem to differ on this point. This variation in leaf gland placement may be due to either loss of glands as the leaf matures or a greater the endowment of glands on leaves successively produced as the plant matures. Additional study on this point is required.

Once sexual differentiation has occurred, the generation of female reproductive organs and their associated bracts increases total plant cannabinoid content. Bracts subtending the female flowers contain a greater density of glands than the leaves. The small cuplike bracteole (perigonal bract) enclosing the pistil has the highest cannabinoid content of any single plant part (Kimura and Okamoto 1970, Honma et al. 1971a & 1971b). Second only to this is the flower itself (Fetterman et al. 1971b). Since it has no reported epidermal gland structures, the cannabinoids present must be due to either undiscovered production sites or simple adherence of resin from the inner surface of its intimately associated bracteole. This conjecture is supported by the finding that the achenes do not contain substantial amounts of the cannabinoids (Fetterman et al. 1971b, Ono et al. 1972). Reproductive structures of the male plant are also provided with greater concentrations of the cannabinoids (Fetterman et al. 1971b, Ohlsson et al. 1971). Stalked glands have been observed covering the tepal, with massively stalked glands occurring on the stamen filament (Dayanadan and Kaufman 1976). In addition, rows of very large sessile glands are found situated in grooves on the anther itself (Dayanadan and Kaufman 1976, Fairbairn 1972) and apparently provide the pollen with a considerable cannabinoid content (Paris et al. 1975a).

Delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) is the cannabinoid responsible for the main psychoactive effects of most Cannabis drug preparations (Mechoulam 1970). In some varieties of Cannabis, additional cannabinoid homologs appear that have the usual pentyl group attached to the aromatic ring, replaced by a propyl (De Zeeuw et al. 1972b & 1973a, Fetterman and Turner 1972, Gill 1971, Gill et al. 1970, Merkus 1971, Vree et al. 1972a, Turner et al. 1973a) or occasionally a methyl group (Vree et al. 1971 & 1972b). Other claims have been made for butyl (Harvey 1976) or heptyl (Isbell 1973) substitutions, but the latter announcement seems particularly tenuous. THC is thought to be produced by the plant (Fig. 2, next page) from cannabidiol (CBD) which, in turn, is derived from cannabigerol (CBG) generated from non-cannabinoid precursors (Hammond and Mahlberg 1994, Shoyama et al. 1984, Turner and Mahlberg 1988). CBG is also the biogenetic precursor of cannabichromene (CBC). Some of the cannabinoids (e.g., cannabielsoin, cannabinol, and cannabicyclol) are probably degradation products of the enzymatically produced cannabinoids (e.g., CBD, THC and CBC, respectively).


Figure 2. Biosynthesis of cannabinoid acids (redrawn after Shoyama et al. 1975): 1 = cannabigerol (CBG); 2 = cannabidiol (CBD); 3 = cannabichromene (CBC); 4 = delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC).

Cannabinoids and environmental stress

Desiccation

THC is a viscous hydrophobic oil (Garrett and Hunt 1974) that resists crystallization (Gaoni and Mechoulam 1971) and is of low volatility (Adams et al. 1941). Since the sticky resins produced and exuded on the surface of the plant are varying combinations of THC, other cannabinoids and a variety of terpenes, they can be seen as analogous to the waxy coatings of the cacti and other succulents that serve as a barrier to water loss in dry environments.

Bouquet (1950) has mentioned that the western side of Lebanon's mountainous Cannabis growing areas is less favorable for resin production because of humid sea winds. De Faubert Maunder (1976) also observed that the copious separable resin needed for hashish production occurs only "in a belt passing from Morocco eastwards, taking in the Mediterranean area, Arabia, the Indian sub-continent and ending in Indo-China." These are mostly areas notable for their sparse rainfall, low humidity and sunny climate. Is it merely coincidence that resin is produced according to this pattern, as well?

Experimental evidence is accumulating that reinforces these notions. Sharma (1975) reported a greater glandular trichome density on leaves of Cannabis growing in xeric circumstances. Paris et al. (1975a) have demonstrated a marked increase in the cannabinoid content of Cannabis pollen with decreased humidity. Murari et al. (1983) grew a range of Cannabis fiber cultivars in three climatic zones of Italy and found higher THC levels in those plants grown in the drier "continental" (versus "maritime") climate. Hakim et al. (1986) report that CBD-rich English Cannabis devoid of THC produced significant amounts of THC and less CBD, when grown in the Sudan. This trend was accentuated in their next generation of plants.

Haney and Kutscheid (1973) have shown significant correlations of plant cannabinoid content with factors affecting soil moisture availability: content of clay or sand, percent slope of plot, and competition from surrounding vegetation. In some cases, this last factor was noted to have induced a stunted plant with "disproportionally smaller roots", which would tend to increase both the frequency and severity of desiccation stress.

In a study of 10 Kansas locations, Latta and Eaton (1975) found wide differences in plant cannabinoid content, observing that "delta-9-THC ranged from 0.012 to 0.49% and generally increased as locations became less favorable for plant growth, suggesting increased plant stress enhanced delta-9-THC production." Mention was also made of a positive correlation between competing vegetation and THC content. Although the sampling area was not considered very moisture deficient, they speculated that "Greater difference among locations might have been observed under drought conditions."

Temperature

Temperature may play a role in determining cannabinoid content, but perhaps only through its association with moisture availability. Boucher et al. (1974) reported an increase in cannabinoid content with temperature (32o C. vs. 22o C.), however, some variables such as increased water loss due to accelerated evaporation and plant transpiration at high temperatures were left unaccounted. In contrast, Bazzaz et al. (1975), using 4 Cannabis ecotypes of both tropical and temperate character, demonstrated a definite decrease in cannabinoid production with increased temperature (32o C. vs. 23o C.). Later studies by Braut-Boucher (1980) on clones of 2 strains from South Africa revealed a more complex pattern of biosynthesis according to strain, gender and chemical homologue produced. Clearly, further study of this parameter is needed.

Soil Nutrients

Mineral balance seems to influence cannabinoid production. Krejci (1970) found increases related to unspecified "poor soil conditions". Haney and Kutcheid (1973) have shown the influence of soil K, P, Ca and N concentrations on Illinois Cannabis. They report a distinctly negative correlation between soil K and plant delta-9-THC content, although K-P interaction, N and Ca were positively correlated with it. These minerals were also shown to affect the production of CBD, delta-8-THC and cannabinol (CBN), although the latter two compounds are now thought to be spontaneous degradation products of delta-9-THC. Kaneshima et al. (1973) have demonstrated the importance of optimal Fe levels for plant synthesis of THC. Latta and Eaton (1975) reported Mg and Fe to be important for THC production, suggesting that these minerals may serve as enzyme co-factors. Coffman and Gentner (1975) also corroborated the importance of soil type and mineral content, and observed a significant negative correlation between plant height at harvest and THC levels. Interestingly, Marshman et al. (1976) report greater amounts of THC in Jamaican plants growing in "organically" enriched (vs. artificially fertilized) soils.

Insect predation

Wounding of the plant has been employed as a method to increase resin production (Emboden 1972). This increase may be a response to desiccation above the point of vascular disruption. Under natural circumstances, wounding most often occurs as a result of insect attack. This is a source of environmental stress which the production of terpenes and cannabinoids may be able to minimize. Cannabis is subject to few predators (Smith and Haney 1973, Stannard et al. 1970) and has even been utilized in powdered or extract form as an insecticide (Bouquet 1950) or repellent (Khare et al. 1974). Its apparent defensive mechanisms include a generous covering of non-glandular trichomes, emission of volatile terpenoid substances, and exudation of the sticky cannabinoids. Cannabis is often noted for its aromatic quality and many of the terpenes produced are known to possess insect-repellent properties. Among these are alpha and beta pinene, limonene, terpineol and borneol. Pinenes and limonene comprise over 75% of the volatiles detected in the surrounding atmosphere, but account for only 7% of the essential oil (Hood et al. 1973). Consistent with glandular trichome density and cannabinoid content, more of these terpenes are produced by the inflorescences than the leaves, and their occurrence is also greater in the female plant (Martin et al. 1961).

No insect toxicity studies using isolated cannabinoids have been published to date. Rothschild et al. (1977) found THC-rich Mexican (vs. CBD-rich Turkish) Cannabis fatal to tiger moth (Arctia caja) larvae, but not Nigerian grasshopper (Zonocerus elegans) nymphs. Rothschild and Fairbairn (1980) later found that pure THC (vs. CBD) sprayed on cabbage leaves, does repel the large white cabbage butterfly (Pieris brassicae).

The cannabinoids may also serve as a purely mechanical defense. A tiny creature crossing the leaf surface could rupture the tenuously attached globular resin reservoirs of the glandular trichomes (Ledbetter and Krikorian 1975) and become ensnared in resin. A sizable chewing insect, if able to overcome these defenses, would still have difficulty chewing the gummy resin, along with the cystolithic trichomes and silicified covering trichomes also present on the leaf. The utility of these epidermal features as insect antifeedants is also inferable from their predominant occurrence on the insect-favored abaxial leaf surface. Although the above strategies represent a seemingly sophisticated system, many other plants (Levin 1973) and even arthropods (Eisner 1970) utilize similar defense mechanisms, often employing identical terpenes!

Competition

Terpenes may also help to suppress the growth of surrounding vegetation (Muller and Hauge 1967, Muller et al. 1964). Haney and Bazzaz (1970) speculated that such a mechanism may be operative in Cannabis. They further ventured that since the production of terpenes is not fully developed in very young plants, this may explain their inability to compete successfully with other vegetation until more mature. The observation (Latta and Eaton 1975) of increased THC production by plants in competition with surrounding vegetation "at a time in the growing season when moisture was not limiting", may indicate a stimulus for cannabinoid production beyond that of simple water stress.

Bacteria and fungi

The cannabinoids may serve as a protectant against microorganisms. Cannabis preparations have long served as medicines (apart from their psychoactive properties) and are effective against a wide variety of infectious diseases (Kabelic et al. 1960, Mikuriya 1969). These antibiotic properties have been demonstrated with both Cannabis extracts (Ferenczy et al. 1958, Kabelic et al. 1960, Radosevic et al. 1962) and a variety of isolated cannabinoids (ElSohly et al. 1982, Farkas and Andrassy 1976, Gal and Vajda 1970, Van Klingeren and Ten Ham 1976). CBG has been compared (Mechoulam and Gaoni 1965) in both "structure and antibacterial properties to grifolin, an antibiotic from the basidiomycete Grifolia conflens." Ferency (1956) has demonstrated the antibiotic properties of Cannabis seed, a factor that may aid its survival when overwintering. Adherent resin on the seed surface, as well as a surrounding mulch of spent Cannabis leaves, may serve in this regard.

Some of the many fungal pathogens that affect Cannabis include Alternaria alterata (Haney and Kutsheid 1975), Ascochyta prasadii (Shukla and Pathak 1967), Botryosphaeria marconii (Charles and Jenkins 1914), Cercospora cannabina and C. cannabis (Lentz et al. 1974), Fusarium oxysporum (McCain and Noviello 1985), Phoma sp. (Srivastava and Naithani 1979) and Phomopsis ganjae (McPartland 1984).

While A. alterata attacks Illinois Cannabis and destroys 2.8-45.5% of the seed (Haney and Kutsheid 1975), the balance of these species are leaf spot diseases. McPartland (1984) has demonstrated the inhibitory effects of THC and CBD on Phomopsis ganjae. However, De Meijer et al. (1992), in evaluating a large collection of Cannabis genotypes, did not find a correlation between cannabinoid content and the occurence of Botrytis. Fungal evolution of a mechanism for overcoming the plant's cannabinoid defenses may be responsible for their success as pathogens. Indeed, some have been demonstrated to metabolize THC and other cannabinoids (Binder 1976, Binder and Popp 1980, Robertson et al. 1975).

Ultraviolet radiation

Another stress to which plants are subject results from their daily exposure to sunlight. While necessary to sustain photosynthesis, natural light contains biologically destructive ultraviolet radiation. This selective pressure has apparently affected the evolution of certain defenses, among them, a chemical screening functionally analogous to the pigmentation of human skin. A preliminary investigation (Pate 1983) indicated that, in areas of high ultraviolet radiation exposure, the UV-B (280-315 nm) absorption properties of THC may have conferred an evolutionary advantage to Cannabis capable of greater production of this compound from biogenetic precursor CBD. The extent to which this production is also influenced by environmental UV-B induced stress has been experimentally determined by Lydon et al. (1987). Their experiments demonstrate that under conditions of high UV-B exposure, drug-type Cannabis produces significantly greater quantities of THC. They have also demonstrated the chemical lability of CBD upon exposure to UV-B (Lydon and Teramura 1987), in contrast to the stability of THC and CBC. However, studies by Brenneisen (1984) have shown only a minor difference in UV-B absorption between THC and CBD, and the absorptive properties of CBC proved considerably greater than either. Perhaps the relationship between the cannabinoids and UV-B is not so direct as first supposed. Two other explanations must now be considered. Even if CBD absorbs on par with THC, in areas of high ambient UV-B, the former compound may be more rapidly degraded. This could lower the availability of CBD present or render it the less energetically efficient compound to produce by the plant. Alternatively, the greater UV-B absorbency of CBC compared to THC and the relative stability of CBC compared to CBD might nominate this compound as the protective screening substance. The presence of large amounts of THC would then have to be explained as merely an accumulated storage compound at the end of the enzyme-mediated cannabinoid pathway. However, further work is required to resolve the fact that Lydon's (1985) experiments did not show a commensurate increase in CBC production with increased UV-B exposure.

This CBC pigmentation hypothesis would imply the development of an alternative to the accepted biochemical pathway from CBG to THC via CBD. Until 1973 (Turner and Hadley 1973), separation of CBD and CBC by gas chromatography was difficult to accomplish, so that many peaks identified as CBD in the preceding literature may in fact have been CBC. Indeed, it has been noted (De Faubert Maunder 1970) and corroborated by GC/MS (Turner and Hadley 1973) that some tropical drug strains of Cannabis do not contain any CBD at all, yet have an abundance of THC. This phenomenon has not been observed for northern temperate varieties of Cannabis. Absence of CBD has led some authors (De Faubert Maunder 1970, Turner and Hadley 1973) to speculate that another biogenetic route to THC is involved. Facts scattered through the literature do indeed indicate a possible alternative. Holley et al. (1975) have shown that Mississippi-grown plants contain a considerable content of CBC, often in excess of the CBD present. In some examples, either CBD or CBC was absent, but in no case were plants devoid of both. Their analysis of material grown in Mexico and Costa Rica served to accentuate this trend. Only one example actually grown in their respective countries revealed the presence of any CBD, although appreciable quantities of CBC were found. The reverse seemed true as well. Seed from Mexican material devoid of CBD was planted in Mississippi and produced plants containing CBD.

Could CBC be involved in an alternate biogenetic route to THC? Yagen and Mechoulam (1969) have synthesized THC (albeit in low yield) directly from CBC. The method used was similar to the acid catalyzed cyclization of CBD to THC (Gaoni and Mechoulam 1966). Reaction by-products included cannabicyclol, delta-8-THC and delta-4,8-iso-THC, all products which have been found in analyses of Cannabis (e.g., Novotny et al. 1976). Finally, radioisotope tracer studies (Shoyama et al. 1975) have uncovered the intriguing fact that radiolabeled CBG fed to a very low THC-producing strain of Cannabis is found as CBD, but when fed to high THC-producing plants, appeared only as CBC and THC. Labeled CBD fed to a Mexican example of these latter plants likewise appeared as THC. Unfortunately, radiolabeled CBC was not fed to their plants, apparently in the belief that CBC branched off the biogenetic pathway at CBD and dead ended. Their research indicated that incorporation of labeled CBG into CBD or CBC was age dependent. Vogelman et al. (1988) likewise report that the developmental stage of seedlings, as well as their exposure to light, affects the occurrence of CBG, CBC or THC in Mexican Cannabis. No CBD was reported.

Conclusions

Although the chemistry of Cannabis has come under extensive investigation, more work is needed to probe the relationship of its resin to biotic and abiotic factors in the environment. Glandular trichomes are production sites for the bulk of secondary compounds present. It is probable that the cannabinoids and associated terpenes serve as defensive agents in a variety of antidessication, antimicrobial, antifeedant and UV-B pigmentation roles. UV-B selection pressures seem responsible for the distribution of THC-rich Cannabis varieties in areas of high ambient radiation, and may have influenced the evolution of an alternate biogenetic pathway from CBG to THC in some of these strains. Though environmental stresses appear to be a direct stimulus for enhanced chemical production by individual plants, it must be cautioned that such stresses may also skew data by hastening development of the highly glandular flowering structures. Future studies will require careful and representative sampling to assure meaningful results."

 

[Danishoes21]

I little zoom on the different types of trichomes developing. Here you can see (excuse the quality of the pics couldn't get them in HD quality) the glandular trichomes, non graldiular trichomes, lots of glandular heads with no stalk, and something I can't identify if you see there are oily looking spots that look like some sort of coating directly on the leaf, you clearly differentiate the developed trichome and further the hair on the leaf and next is this spot, I found this on multiple leaves on the plant.

Pheno #3 (trichomes)

My first guess (base on pure speculation) could this be terpenes coating the leaf??

Found this lurking around.
"There's something about the aroma of cannabis that soothes the mind and body. Whether it's the sweet fruity taste of Pineapple Trainwreck or that skunky smell that bursts from a cracked bud of Sour Diesel, we know there's something going on under their complex and flavorful bouquets.

Terpenes are what you smell, and knowing what they are will deepen your appreciation of cannabis whether you're a medical patient or recreational consumer.

Secreted in the same glands that produce cannabinoids like THC and CBD, terpenes are the pungent oils that color cannabis varieties with distinctive flavors like citrus, berry, mint, and pine. Medical research on cannabis has so avidly focused on cannabinoids that we don't know much about these aromatic compounds yet. However, we know just enough to realize that terpenes are the next frontier in medical marijuana.

Not unlike other strong-smelling plants and flowers, the development of terpenes in cannabis began for adaptive purposes: to repel predators and lure pollinators. There are many factors that influence a plant's development of terpenes, including climate, weather, age and maturation, fertilizers, soil type, and even the time of day.

Over 100 different terpenes have been identified in the cannabis plant, and every strain tends toward a unique terpene type and composition. In other words, a strain like Cheese and its descendents will likely have a discernable cheese-like smell, and Blueberry offspring often inherit the smell of berries.

The diverse palate of cannabis flavors is impressive enough, but arguably the most fascinating characteristic of terpenes is their ability to interact synergistically with other compounds in the plant, like cannabinoids. In the past few decades, most cannabis varieties have been bred to contain high levels of THC, and as a result, other cannabinoids like CBD, CBC, and CBN have fallen to just trace amounts. This has led growers to believe that terpenes help account for the unique effects induced by each cannabis strain.

This synergy has a scientific basis in our body's endocannabinoid system. THC binds to receptors concentrated most heavily in the brain where psychoactive effects take place. Terpenes also bind to these receptor sites and affect their chemical output. They can also modify how much THC passes through the blood-brain barrier. Their hand of influence even reaches to neurotransmitters like dopamine and serotonin by altering their rate of production and destruction, their movement, and availability of receptors.

The effects these mechanisms produce vary from terpene to terpene; some are especially successful in relieving stress, while others promote focus and acuity. Myrcene, for example, induces sleep whereas limonene elevates mood. There are also effects that are imperceptible, like the gastroprotective properties of Caryophyllene.

Their differences may be subtle, but terpenes can add great depth to the horticultural art and connoisseurship of cannabis. Most importantly, terpenes may offer incredible medical value as they mediate our body's interaction with therapeutic cannabinoids. Many cannabis analysis labs now test terpene content, so any consumer can have a better idea of what effects their strain might produce. With their unlimited combinations of synergistic effects, terpenes will likely open up new scientific and medical terrains for cannabis research."

 

[Danishoes21]

Another amazing source of information.

The Medicinal Uses of Cannabis and Cannabinoids - Google Books

 

[SweetSue]

I love all this information overload dani. I have a need to study and I can't believe I found someone here who shares that desire. Since the hospital wifi doesn't let me pull up 420 and I'm too tired to read anymore tonight I screen saved it all on the photo roll to read tomorrow.

I have my plants down to 13/11 now and by the weekend they'll be down to 12/12. So far, every time I cut the lights back they've almost sighed in relief, so a big thank you for the info. It will be interesting to watch Buddha finish out under 12/12 as her breeders intended. She looks like she has another month to go. Maybe I'll get adventurous and try a week or two at 11/13. She's already frosty as hell, so I can't see how it would harm her.

 

[Danishoes21]

I love all this information overload dani. I have a need to study and I can't believe I found someone here who shares that desire. Since the hospital wifi doesn't let me pull up 420 and I'm too tired to read anymore tonight I screen saved it all on the photo roll to read tomorrow.

I have my plants down to 13/11 now and by the weekend they'll be down to 12/12. So far, every time I cut the lights back they've almost sighed in relief, so a big thank you for the info. It will be interesting to watch Buddha finish out under 12/12 as her breeders intended. She looks like she has another month to go. Maybe I'll get adventurous and try a week or two at 11/13. She's already frosty as hell, so I can't see how it would harm her.

Im very glad you can enjoy at least five minutes reading while in the hospital, Im encouraged to keep you reading then. Always welcome to contribute with your ideas and findings. There is so much information around its impossible to catch everything.

About your plants (btw they are amazing), can I ask what was your photoperiod schedule since the beginning? Im interested, and how old are your ladies?