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Holweg MMSF, Kaiser E, Kappers IF, Heuvelink E, Marcelis LFM. The role of red and white light in optimizing growth and accumulation of plant specialized metabolites at two light intensities in medical cannabis ( Cannabis sativa L.). FRONTIERS IN PLANT SCIENCE 2024; 15:1393803. [PMID: 38957608 PMCID: PMC11217568 DOI: 10.3389/fpls.2024.1393803] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/29/2024] [Accepted: 05/20/2024] [Indexed: 07/04/2024]
Abstract
The cultivation of medical cannabis (Cannabis sativa L.) is expanding in controlled environments, driven by evolving governmental regulations for healthcare supply. Increasing inflorescence weight and plant specialized metabolite (PSM) concentrations is critical, alongside maintaining product consistency. Medical cannabis is grown under different spectra and photosynthetic photon flux densities (PPFD), the interaction between spectrum and PPFD on inflorescence weight and PSM attracts attention by both industrialists and scientists. Plants were grown in climate-controlled rooms without solar light, where four spectra were applied: two low-white spectra (7B-20G-73R/Narrow and 6B-19G-75R/2Peaks), and two high-white (15B-42G-43R/Narrow and 17B-40G-43R/Broad) spectra. The low-white spectra differed in red wavelength peaks (100% 660 nm, versus 50:50% of 640:660 nm), the high-white spectra differed in spectrum broadness. All four spectra were applied at 600 and 1200 μmol m-2 s-1. Irrespective of PPFD, white light with a dual red peak of 640 and 660 nm (6B-19G-75R/2Peaks) increased inflorescence weight, compared to white light with a single red peak of 660 nm (7B-20G-73R/Narrow) (tested at P = 0.1); this was associated with higher total plant dry matter production and a more open plant architecture, which likely enhanced light capture. At high PPFD, increasing white fraction and spectrum broadness (17B-40G-43R/Broad) produced similar inflorescence weights compared to white light with a dual red peak of 640 and 660 nm (6B-19G-75R/2Peaks). This was caused by an increase of both plant dry matter production and dry matter partitioning to the inflorescences. No spectrum or PPFD effects on cannabinoid concentrations were observed, although at high PPFD white light with a dual red peak of 640 and 660 nm (6B-19G-75R/2Peaks) increased terpenoid concentrations compared to the other spectra. At low PPFD, the combination of white light with 640 and 660 nm increased photosynthetic efficiency compared with white light with a single red peak of 660nm, indicating potential benefits in light use efficiency and promoting plant dry matter production. These results indicate that the interaction between spectrum and PPFD influences plant dry matter production. Dividing the light energy in the red waveband over both 640 and 660 nm equally shows potential in enhancing photosynthesis and plant dry matter production.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Elias Kaiser
- Horticulture and Product Physiology, Wageningen University, Wageningen, Netherlands
| | - Iris F. Kappers
- Laboratory of Plant Physiology, Wageningen University, Wageningen, Netherlands
| | - Ep Heuvelink
- Horticulture and Product Physiology, Wageningen University, Wageningen, Netherlands
| | - Leo F. M. Marcelis
- Horticulture and Product Physiology, Wageningen University, Wageningen, Netherlands
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Collado CE, Hwang SJ, Hernández R. Supplemental greenhouse lighting increased the water use efficiency, crop growth, and cutting production in Cannabis sativa. FRONTIERS IN PLANT SCIENCE 2024; 15:1371702. [PMID: 38911978 PMCID: PMC11190854 DOI: 10.3389/fpls.2024.1371702] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/16/2024] [Accepted: 05/06/2024] [Indexed: 06/25/2024]
Abstract
The expanding cannabis production sector faces economic challenges, intensified by freshwater scarcity in the main US production areas. Greenhouse cultivation harnesses sunlight to reduce production costs, yet the impact of greenhouse light levels on crucial production components, such as plant growth, branching, and water use efficiency (WUE), remains poorly understood. This study aimed to assess the effects of combined sunlight and supplemental lighting on the crop's main production components and leaf gas exchange of Cannabis sativa 'Suver Haze' in the vegetative stage. Within a greenhouse, LED lighting provided at intensities of ~150, 300, 500, and 700 µmol m-2 s-1 (18-hour photoperiod), combined with solar radiation, resulted in average daily light integrals of 17.9, 29.8, 39.5, and 51.8 mol m-2 d-1. Increasing light levels linearly increased biomass, leaf area, and the number of branches per plant and square meter, with respective rates of 0.26 g, 32.5 cm2, and 0.41 branches per mole of additional light. As anticipated, crop evapotranspiration increased by 1.8-fold with the increase in light intensity yet crop WUE improved by 1.6-fold when comparing the lowest and highest light treatments. Moreover, water requirements per unit of plant biomass decreased from 0.37 to 0.24 liters per gram when lighting increased from ~18 to 52 mol m-2 d-1, marking a 35% reduction in evapotranspiration. These results were supported by increments in leaf photosynthesis and WUE with light enhancement. Furthermore, our findings indicate that even 52 mol m-2 d-1 of supplemental lighting did not saturate any of the crop responses to light and can be economically viable for cannabis nurseries. In conclusion, light supplementation strongly enhanced photosynthesis and plant growth while increasing WUE. Additionally, a comprehensive discussion highlights the shared physiological mechanisms governing WUE in diverse plant species and their potential for water conservation under enhanced lighting conditions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Cristian E. Collado
- Department of Horticultural Science, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, NC, United States
| | - Seung Jae Hwang
- Division of Horticultural Sciences, Institute of Agriculture & Life Sciences, Research Institute of Life Sciences, Division of Crop Sciences, Gyeongsang National University, Jinju, Republic of Korea
| | - Ricardo Hernández
- Department of Horticultural Science, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, NC, United States
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Murovec J, Eržen JJ, Flajšman M, Vodnik D. Analysis of Morphological Traits, Cannabinoid Profiles, THCAS Gene Sequences, and Photosynthesis in Wide and Narrow Leaflet High-Cannabidiol Breeding Populations of Medical Cannabis. FRONTIERS IN PLANT SCIENCE 2022; 13:786161. [PMID: 35283868 PMCID: PMC8907982 DOI: 10.3389/fpls.2022.786161] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/29/2021] [Accepted: 01/14/2022] [Indexed: 06/14/2023]
Abstract
Cannabis sativa L. is one of the oldest cultivated crops, used in medicine for millennia due to therapeutic characteristics of the phytocannabinoids it contains. Its medicinal properties are highly influenced by the chemotype, that is, the ratio of the two main cannabinoids cannabidiol (CBD) and Δ-9-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC). Based on published data, the chemotype should correlate with plant morphology, genetics, and photosynthetic properties. In this work, we investigated leaf morphology, plant growth characteristics, cannabinoid profiles, THCAS gene sequences, and plant photosynthetic traits in two breeding populations of medical cannabis (MX-CBD-11 and MX-CBD-707). The populations differed significantly in morphological traits. The MX-CBD-11 plants were taller, less branched, and their leaves had narrower leaflets than the bushier, wideleaved MX-CBD-707 plants, and there were significant differences between populations in the dry biomass of different plant parts. Based on these morphological differences, MX-CBD-11 was designated as a narrow leaflet drug type or vernacular "Sativa" type, while MX-CBD-707 was classified as wide leaflet drug type or "Indica" type. Chemical characterisation revealed a discrepancy between the expected chemotypes based on plant morphology; although both populations have high CBD, within each Type II (CBD/THC intermediate) and Type III (CBD dominant) plants were detected. The THCAS gene sequence analysis clustered the plants based on their chemotypes and showed high similarity to the THCAS sequences deposited in NCBI. In silico complementary analysis, using published molecular markers for chemotype determination, showed their low discrimination power in our two populations, demonstrating the genotype dependence of the molecular markers. Basic photosynthetic traits derived from light and CO2 response curves were similar in the populations. However, measurements of gas exchange under chamber conditions revealed higher stomatal conductivity and photosynthesis in MX-CBD-707 plants, which were also characterised by higher day respiration. The results of this study showed that based on visual appearance and some morphological measurements, it is not possible to determine a plant's chemotype. Visually homogenous plants had different cannabinoid profiles and, vice versa, morphologically distinct plants contained similar CBD and THC content. The two chemotypes identified in our experimental plants therefore did not correlate with plant visual appearance, leaf morphometry, and photosynthetic properties of the populations studied. Correlation was only demonstrated with the respect to THCAS sequences, which showed great discrimination power between the chemotypes.
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Ahmed B, Hijri M. Potential impacts of soil microbiota manipulation on secondary metabolites production in cannabis. J Cannabis Res 2021; 3:25. [PMID: 34217364 PMCID: PMC8254954 DOI: 10.1186/s42238-021-00082-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/30/2020] [Accepted: 06/22/2021] [Indexed: 12/16/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Cannabis growing practices and particularly indoor cultivation conditions have a great influence on the production of cannabinoids. Plant-associated microbes may affect nutrient acquisition by the plant. However, beneficial microbes influencing cannabinoid biosynthesis remain largely unexplored and unexploited in cannabis production. OBJECTIVE To summarize study outcomes on bacterial and fungal communities associated with cannabis using high-throughput sequencing technologies and to uncover microbial interactions, species diversity, and microbial network connections that potentially influence secondary metabolite production in cannabis. MATERIALS AND METHOD A mini review was conducted including recent publications on cannabis and their associated microbiota and secondary metabolite production. RESULTS In this review, we provide an overview of the potential role of the soil microbiome in production of cannabinoids, and discussed that manipulation of cannabis-associated microbiome obtained through soil amendment interventions of diversified microbial communities sourced from natural forest soil could potentially help producers of cannabis to improve yields of cannabinoids and enhance the balance of cannabidiol (CBD) and tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) proportions. CONCLUSION Cannabis is one of the oldest cultivated crops in history, grown for food, fiber, and drugs for thousands of years. Extension of genetic variation in cannabis has developed into wide-ranging varieties with various complementary phenotypes and secondary metabolites. For medical or pharmaceutical purposes, the ratio of CBD to THC is key. Therefore, studying soil microbiota associated with cannabis and its potential impact on secondary metabolites production could be useful when selecting microorganisms as bioinoculant agents for enhanced organic cannabinoid production.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bulbul Ahmed
- Institut de Recherche en Biologie Végétale, Université de Montréal, 4101 Sherbrooke Est, Montréal, Québec, H1X 2B2, Canada
| | - Mohamed Hijri
- Institut de Recherche en Biologie Végétale, Université de Montréal, 4101 Sherbrooke Est, Montréal, Québec, H1X 2B2, Canada.
- African Genome Center, Mohammed VI Polytechnic University (UM6P), Lot 660, Hay Moulay Rachid, 43150, Ben Guerir, Morocco.
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Westmoreland FM, Kusuma P, Bugbee B. Cannabis lighting: Decreasing blue photon fraction increases yield but efficacy is more important for cost effective production of cannabinoids. PLoS One 2021; 16:e0248988. [PMID: 33755709 PMCID: PMC7987162 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0248988] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/26/2021] [Accepted: 03/09/2021] [Indexed: 12/29/2022] Open
Abstract
LED technology facilitates a range of spectral quality, which can be used to optimize photosynthesis, plant shape and secondary metabolism. We conducted three studies to investigate the effect of blue photon fraction on yield and quality of medical hemp. Conditions were varied among studies to evaluate potential interactions with environment, but all environmental conditions other than the blue photon fraction were maintained constant among the five-chambers in each study. The photosynthetic photon flux density (PPFD, 400 to 700 nm) was rigorously maintained at the set point among treatments in each study by raising the fixtures. The lowest fraction of blue photons was 4% from HPS, and increased to 9.8, 10.4, 16, and 20% from LEDs. There was a consistent, linear, 12% decrease in yield in each study as the fraction of blue photons increased from 4 to 20%. Dry flower yield ranged from 500 to 750 g m-2. This resulted in a photon conversion efficacy of 0.22 to 0.36 grams dry flower mass yield per mole of photons. Yield was higher at a PPFD of 900 than at 750 μmol m-2 s-1. There was no effect of spectral quality on CBD or THC concentration. CBD and THC were 8% and 0.3% at harvest in trials one and two, and 12% and 0.5% in trial three. The CBD/THC ratio was about 25 to 1 in all treatments and studies. The efficacy of the fixtures ranged from 1.7 (HPS) to 2.5 μmol per joule (white+red LED). Yield under the white+red LED fixture (10.4% blue) was 4.6% lower than the HPS on a per unit area basis, but was 27% higher on a per dollar of electricity basis. These findings suggest that fixture efficacy and initial cost of the fixture are more important for return on investment than spectral distribution at high photon flux.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Paul Kusuma
- Crop Physiology Laboratory, Utah State University, Logan, Utah, United States of America
| | - Bruce Bugbee
- Crop Physiology Laboratory, Utah State University, Logan, Utah, United States of America
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Oultram JMJ, Pegler JL, Bowser TA, Ney LJ, Eamens AL, Grof CPL. Cannabis sativa: Interdisciplinary Strategies and Avenues for Medical and Commercial Progression Outside of CBD and THC. Biomedicines 2021; 9:biomedicines9030234. [PMID: 33652704 PMCID: PMC7996784 DOI: 10.3390/biomedicines9030234] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/01/2021] [Revised: 02/16/2021] [Accepted: 02/23/2021] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
Cannabis sativa (Cannabis) is one of the world’s most well-known, yet maligned plant species. However, significant recent research is starting to unveil the potential of Cannabis to produce secondary compounds that may offer a suite of medical benefits, elevating this unique plant species from its illicit narcotic status into a genuine biopharmaceutical. This review summarises the lengthy history of Cannabis and details the molecular pathways that underpin the production of key secondary metabolites that may confer medical efficacy. We also provide an up-to-date summary of the molecular targets and potential of the relatively unknown minor compounds offered by the Cannabis plant. Furthermore, we detail the recent advances in plant science, as well as synthetic biology, and the pharmacology surrounding Cannabis. Given the relative infancy of Cannabis research, we go on to highlight the parallels to previous research conducted in another medically relevant and versatile plant, Papaver somniferum (opium poppy), as an indicator of the possible future direction of Cannabis plant biology. Overall, this review highlights the future directions of cannabis research outside of the medical biology aspects of its well-characterised constituents and explores additional avenues for the potential improvement of the medical potential of the Cannabis plant.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jackson M. J. Oultram
- Centre for Plant Science, University of Newcastle, University Drive, Callaghan, NSW 2308, Australia; (J.M.J.O.); (J.L.P.); (A.L.E.)
| | - Joseph L. Pegler
- Centre for Plant Science, University of Newcastle, University Drive, Callaghan, NSW 2308, Australia; (J.M.J.O.); (J.L.P.); (A.L.E.)
| | - Timothy A. Bowser
- CannaPacific Pty Ltd., 109 Ocean Street, Dudley, NSW 2290, Australia;
| | - Luke J. Ney
- School of Psychological Sciences, University of Tasmania, Hobart, TAS 7005, Australia;
| | - Andrew L. Eamens
- Centre for Plant Science, University of Newcastle, University Drive, Callaghan, NSW 2308, Australia; (J.M.J.O.); (J.L.P.); (A.L.E.)
| | - Christopher P. L. Grof
- Centre for Plant Science, University of Newcastle, University Drive, Callaghan, NSW 2308, Australia; (J.M.J.O.); (J.L.P.); (A.L.E.)
- CannaPacific Pty Ltd., 109 Ocean Street, Dudley, NSW 2290, Australia;
- Correspondence: ; Tel.: +612-4921-5858
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Khajuria M, Rahul VP, Vyas D. Photochemical efficiency is negatively correlated with the Δ 9- tetrahydrocannabinol content in Cannabis sativa L. PLANT PHYSIOLOGY AND BIOCHEMISTRY : PPB 2020; 151:589-600. [PMID: 32330839 DOI: 10.1016/j.plaphy.2020.04.003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/28/2020] [Revised: 03/18/2020] [Accepted: 04/02/2020] [Indexed: 05/16/2023]
Abstract
Cannabis sativa L is an important plant, which is a source of durable fibers, nutritious seeds, and medicinally important phytocannabinoids including Δ9-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) and cannabidiol (CBD). Light has shown to be a key modulator of biomass and cannabinoid yield suggesting responsive photochemical machinery. The present study was envisaged to understand the effect of the increasing levels of metabolic THC on the photochemical efficiency in Cannabis. The chlorophyll a fluorescence kinetics, photosynthetic pigments and immuno-detection of the photosynthetic machinery was analyzed on seven accessions from different environments, in conjunction with the cannabinoid content. All the accessions were clearly divided into three groups based on their relative content of CBD and THC. Group I with (CBD/THC > 1) had a clear advantage in terms of the damage to the D1, RbCL and Lhc1 protein holo-complex. Performance indicators of photochemistry based on the OJIP kinetics suggested a stoichiometrically negative correlation with the THC content. Zeaxanthin-dependent quenching is primarily responsible for lower NPQ in Group III with high THC content (THC > 6%). The THC treatment on Arabidopsis thaliana also suggested dose-dependent decrease in the photochemical efficiency suggesting the exclusivity of THC in causing the response. This resulted in the damage of photosynthetic machinery and the generation of free radicals, thereby compromising the yield. The study also opens a new screening method for Cannabis, based on cannabinoid content.
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Affiliation(s)
- Manu Khajuria
- Biodiversity and Applied Botany Division, Indian Institute of Integrative Medicine (CSIR), Canal Road, Jammu, J & K 180001 India
| | - Vishav Prakash Rahul
- Academy of Scientific and Innovative Research, Ghaziabad, Uttar Pradesh 201002 India; Genetic Resources and Agrotechnology Division, Indian Institute of Integrative Medicine (CSIR), Canal Road, Jammu, J & K 180001 India
| | - Dhiraj Vyas
- Biodiversity and Applied Botany Division, Indian Institute of Integrative Medicine (CSIR), Canal Road, Jammu, J & K 180001 India; Academy of Scientific and Innovative Research, Ghaziabad, Uttar Pradesh 201002 India; Genetic Resources and Agrotechnology Division, Indian Institute of Integrative Medicine (CSIR), Canal Road, Jammu, J & K 180001 India.
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Chandra S, Lata H, ElSohly MA. Propagation of Cannabis for Clinical Research: An Approach Towards a Modern Herbal Medicinal Products Development. FRONTIERS IN PLANT SCIENCE 2020; 11:958. [PMID: 32676092 PMCID: PMC7333344 DOI: 10.3389/fpls.2020.00958] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/08/2019] [Accepted: 06/10/2020] [Indexed: 05/20/2023]
Abstract
Cannabis has been reported to contain over 560 different compounds, out of which 120 are cannabinoids. Among the cannabinoids, Δ9-tetrahydrocannabinol and cannabidiol are the two major compounds with very different pharmacological profile and a tremendous therapeutic potential. However, there are many challenges in bringing cannabis from grow-farms to pharmaceuticals. Among many, one important challenge is to maintain the supply chain of biomass, which is consistent in its cannabinoids profile. To maintain this process, male plants are removed from growing fields as they appear. Even with that practice, still there are fair chances of cross fertilization. Therefore, controlled indoor cultivation for screening, selection of high yielding female plants based on their cannabinoids profile, and their conservation and multiplication using vegetative propagation and/or micropropagation is a suitable path to ensure consistency in biomass material. In this chapter, the botany and propagation of elite cannabis varieties will be discussed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Suman Chandra
- National Center for Natural Products Research, School of Pharmacy, University of Mississippi, Oxford, MS, United States
| | - Hemant Lata
- National Center for Natural Products Research, School of Pharmacy, University of Mississippi, Oxford, MS, United States
| | - Mahmoud A. ElSohly
- National Center for Natural Products Research, School of Pharmacy, University of Mississippi, Oxford, MS, United States
- Department of Pharmaceutics and Drug Delivery, School of Pharmacy, University of Mississippi, Oxford, MS, United States
- *Correspondence: Mahmoud A. ElSohly,
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Eichhorn Bilodeau S, Wu BS, Rufyikiri AS, MacPherson S, Lefsrud M. An Update on Plant Photobiology and Implications for Cannabis Production. FRONTIERS IN PLANT SCIENCE 2019; 10:296. [PMID: 31001288 PMCID: PMC6455078 DOI: 10.3389/fpls.2019.00296] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/05/2018] [Accepted: 02/25/2019] [Indexed: 05/18/2023]
Abstract
This review presents recent developments in plant photobiology and lighting systems for horticultural crops, as well as potential applications for cannabis (Cannabis sativa and C. indica) plant production. The legal and commercial production of the cannabis plant is a relatively new, rapidly growing, and highly profitable industry in Europe and North America. However, more knowledge transfer from plant studies and horticultural communities to commercial cannabis plant growers is needed. Plant photosynthesis and photomorphogenesis are influenced by light wavelength, intensity, and photoperiod via plant photoreceptors that sense light and control plant growth. Further, light properties play a critical role in plant vegetative growth and reproductive (flowering) developmental stages, as well as in biomass, secondary metabolite synthesis, and accumulation. Advantages and disadvantages of widespread greenhouse lighting systems that use high pressure sodium lamps or light emitting diode (LED) lighting are known. Some artificial plant lighting practices will require improvements for cannabis production. By manipulating LED light spectra and stimulating specific plant photoreceptors, it may be possible to minimize operation costs while maximizing cannabis biomass and cannabinoid yield, including tetrahydrocannabinol (or Δ9-tetrahydrocannabinol) and cannabidiol for medicinal and recreational purposes. The basics of plant photobiology (photosynthesis and photomorphogenesis) and electrical lighting systems are discussed, with an emphasis on how the light spectrum and lighting strategies could influence cannabis production and secondary compound accumulation.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | | | - Mark Lefsrud
- Department of Bioresource Engineering, McGill University, Montreal, QC, Canada
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Backer R, Schwinghamer T, Rosenbaum P, McCarty V, Eichhorn Bilodeau S, Lyu D, Ahmed MB, Robinson G, Lefsrud M, Wilkins O, Smith DL. Closing the Yield Gap for Cannabis: A Meta-Analysis of Factors Determining Cannabis Yield. FRONTIERS IN PLANT SCIENCE 2019; 10:495. [PMID: 31068957 PMCID: PMC6491815 DOI: 10.3389/fpls.2019.00495] [Citation(s) in RCA: 36] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/31/2018] [Accepted: 04/01/2019] [Indexed: 05/20/2023]
Abstract
Until recently, the commercial production of Cannabis sativa was restricted to varieties that yielded high-quality fiber while producing low levels of the psychoactive cannabinoid tetrahydrocannabinol (THC). In the last few years, a number of jurisdictions have legalized the production of medical and/or recreational cannabis with higher levels of THC, and other jurisdictions seem poised to follow suit. Consequently, demand for industrial-scale production of high yield cannabis with consistent cannabinoid profiles is expected to increase. In this paper we highlight that currently, projected annual production of cannabis is based largely on facility size, not yield per square meter. This meta-analysis of cannabis yields reported in scientific literature aimed to identify the main factors contributing to cannabis yield per plant, per square meter, and per W of lighting electricity. In line with previous research we found that variety, plant density, light intensity and fertilization influence cannabis yield and cannabinoid content; we also identified pot size, light type and duration of the flowering period as predictors of yield and THC accumulation. We provide insight into the critical role of light intensity, quality, and photoperiod in determining cannabis yields, with particular focus on the potential for light-emitting diodes (LEDs) to improve growth and reduce energy requirements. We propose that the vast amount of genomics data currently available for cannabis can be used to better understand the effect of genotype on yield. Finally, we describe diversification that is likely to emerge in cannabis growing systems and examine the potential role of plant-growth promoting rhizobacteria (PGPR) for growth promotion, regulation of cannabinoid biosynthesis, and biocontrol.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rachel Backer
- Crop Physiology Laboratory, Department of Plant Science, McGill University, Sainte-Anne-de-Bellevue, QC, Canada
- *Correspondence: Rachel Backer
| | - Timothy Schwinghamer
- Crop Physiology Laboratory, Department of Plant Science, McGill University, Sainte-Anne-de-Bellevue, QC, Canada
| | - Phillip Rosenbaum
- Plant Systems Biology Laboratory, Department of Plant Science, McGill University, Sainte-Anne-de-Bellevue, QC, Canada
| | - Vincent McCarty
- Plant Systems Biology Laboratory, Department of Plant Science, McGill University, Sainte-Anne-de-Bellevue, QC, Canada
| | - Samuel Eichhorn Bilodeau
- Biomass Production Laboratory, Department of Bioresource Engineering, McGill University, Sainte-Anne-de-Bellevue, QC, Canada
| | - Dongmei Lyu
- Crop Physiology Laboratory, Department of Plant Science, McGill University, Sainte-Anne-de-Bellevue, QC, Canada
| | - Md Bulbul Ahmed
- Plant Systems Biology Laboratory, Department of Plant Science, McGill University, Sainte-Anne-de-Bellevue, QC, Canada
| | | | - Mark Lefsrud
- Biomass Production Laboratory, Department of Bioresource Engineering, McGill University, Sainte-Anne-de-Bellevue, QC, Canada
| | - Olivia Wilkins
- Plant Systems Biology Laboratory, Department of Plant Science, McGill University, Sainte-Anne-de-Bellevue, QC, Canada
| | - Donald L. Smith
- Crop Physiology Laboratory, Department of Plant Science, McGill University, Sainte-Anne-de-Bellevue, QC, Canada
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