The Homogenization Of Cannabis...

CrackerJax

New Member
The illegality of weed has actually been the driving force to all of this improvement. It is the criminal element which drives up the prices and attracts tons of folks to the "industry".

Without weed being illegal ... the indoor grow industry might never have taken off at all. It would be a shadow compared to what we have today.
 
The illegality of weed has actually been the driving force to all of this improvement. It is the criminal element which drives up the prices and attracts tons of folks to the "industry".

Without weed being illegal ... the indoor grow industry might never have taken off at all. It would be a shadow compared to what we have today.

I will Quote someone else

it is arrogant to think that one of the first plants to be domesticated has been made much stronger in the past 20 years, strong strains have existed for centuries,however the knowledge required to grow them to their full potential is only recently being developed in the west.
I will always prefer to breed from an IBL or land race(acclimitized), and sometimes stablized hybrids than unstable hybrids.

I think this thread is more about the avaliability of land race and IBLs than the Homogenization of Cannabis. But then again you do find alot alot of strains with Skunk in it....
 

CrackerJax

New Member
From what I understand ... old maui and jam red ran about 7-9% THC. That doesn't compare with MMJ at all.

They are stronger plants, no doubt...but not as potent.
 
From what I understand ... old maui and jam red ran about 7-9% THC. That doesn't compare with MMJ at all.

They are stronger plants, no doubt...but not as potent.
I agree with you on several points. #1 is strains that may seem lost like Thai Juicy fruit(not the ceres juicy fruit) are somewhere to be found.
But for example are we talking Maui from Hawaii or Maui from some guy who just grows in a different climate. I actually have smoked some Maui from
Hawaii and it was pretty awesome, but I was pretty young.. But Maui and Panama Red and most strains from the Americas in my experience are not that strong of course there may be exceptions (dont want to lock myself in a huge generalization). But some Thai strains have shown 20 % and rival White Widow.. Lets
not forget also where these numbers come from. 5 grand or so can get you a decent used mass spectrometer. So, every breeder has one and has access to one?
I don't doubt that some do.. But they know it's gonna be tested. So they ramp up all efforts to focus on producing the most potent grow they can.. Not every one who grows white widow or G13 is gonna get 20-25% THC.. I have seen seed companies say Mazar has 20% Maybe grown in out f*ken standing circumstances...Let's not forget also that for example Malana(Yum Yum) is a hybrid, but also is a Land Race :) So, even in nature there is cross pollination.. So, I have no doubt that hybridization is awesome,no disagreement there but what we are saying is that the natural selection and acclimitization that happens over decades even with using modern breeding techniques it takes time. That genetic line is important to further breeding. What happens when you have a strain that has 2 % THC but its totally resist to mold and certain pests etc well that strain is worth keeping. Look at rudelis.. Personally am not gonna be smoking it, maybe its my ignorance and snobbery but we are all guilty in some form. So protecting some of these strains should be a priority by having your own personal IBL stock. But some organization should put them in the deep freeze..
I am not swimming against you man. I think you have many valid points, and no one is gonna disagree that hybrids are where its at for plant breeding in the west, but that doesn't mean we should forget about the strains that were apart of basic building blocks of those strains or strains yet to be found.

The Real Seed co - Lots of Land Races
Reeferman has Panama Red(haven't seen any reports on this)
Gypsy Nirvana has Thai strain that was used in the old thai stick ( I don't think this is chocolate thai,correct me if am wrong)
various other companies also have various land race and IBLs
I have yet to see anyone offering up chocolate and juicy fruit thai.
 

CrackerJax

New Member
I feel the same way about the land races ... don't get me wrong. I think they are all out there.... like you said ... somewhere.

Do we measure THC the same way that we did back in the 70's? Who did the measuring back then? Now??

What does the THC level really mean. What about CBD's? What about the ratio of THC to CBD's? within any certain strain.

Lots of variables....and who is doing the cross verification to keep everyone honest in a business that with a new successful strain brings big $$$$ and big temptations to fudge numbers.

Lots of variables.....
 

volx707

Member
well i have blue dreams, la confidental, mr. nice guy, pinapple trainwreck, and purple kush. you have to find out what strains like what before you can truely tell how they are if you are growing at the same time and close to each other find similare strains. but if they taste the same look alike and are supposed to be different then i would try getting ur strains some where else cause they are most lickly the same strain. i dont see any problem with making hybrids and bredding. you just have to get strong proven strains from trusted growers. if ur in cali do research and find a good clinic cause they are not all the same.
 
I feel the same way about the land races ... don't get me wrong. I think they are all out there.... like you said ... somewhere.

Do we measure THC the same way that we did back in the 70's? Who did the measuring back then? Now??

What does the THC level really mean. What about CBD's? What about the ratio of THC to CBD's? within any certain strain.

Lots of variables....and who is doing the cross verification to keep everyone honest in a business that with a new successful strain brings big $$$$ and big temptations to fudge numbers.

Lots of variables.....
When I say 20% THC usually that is thc plus all the rest of cannabanoids. They use Mass spectrometry, you can look it up on Wikipedia if you don't know already. I have herd they have a hard time measuring all of the various cannabanoids. But that’s just what I have read. Since I don't actually own one and never got to play with one. So, some of these strains when they say 20% it’s actually around 9-10 % thc :P but I am almost positive that THC alone will not give you the high that you expect. That’s why the THC pill deal didn't work out to well, in my opinion. That’s why they are trying to figure out what genes deal with the cannabanoid production. There is a paper somewhere online about it. They tried measuring CBD and in conclusion multiple genes deal with cbd production and until ddNTPs(its something like 250 dollars( need 4 of these AGCT) for 20 reactions 1 reaction gets like 400 or so bases depending on technique not including smears(fUkUps), there could be hundreds of millions of bases in 1 chromosome :S ), get cheaper that is gonna be out of the realm of home growers. But for about 1k you can do some Protoplast-fusion of tissue cultures. Maybe cheaper if you can find some stuff bargain rates like PEG(Polyethylene Glycol) which will be most of your cost 540 dollars for 1 gram of PEG-3000 or something similar(Dow chemical is making a killing..), but you also need something to apply the current. Everything and all information anyone needs to do basic Tissue Culture&Cloning(Micropropagation), Protoplast-fusion(using these methods along with mass spectrometry you can speed up the time it takes to create stabilized hybrids) is online. I just wonder how many Breeders are gonna list that their cannabis has been genetically modified and how will the tree huggers respond when they find out they been cooking brownies and smoking genetically modified cannabis. I Apologize for being off topic and going off on a rant you get lonely in an oppressed society…
Note: I don’t claim to be accurate, or a professional at anything related to cannabis, microbiology, science or anything in general.
 

CrackerJax

New Member
Granted ... but like I said ... who has been doing the measuring within the industry?

There is no uniform body. Who's double checking everyone? :lol:

I have always contended that the THC levels is just a come on...no different from balloons at a car dealership.


Here's a link for the OP..... here are some land races at a good value. I may just pick up some Colombian Gold. Good memories there.

http://www.shop.mandalaseeds.com/contents/en-uk/d45.html
 

Sparky4u

Active Member
"I am almost positive that THC alone will not give you the high that you expect. That’s why the THC pill deal didn't work out to well, in my opinion."

I think you are onto something there; I tried the marinol THC pills and a killer headache was all I got out of it no matter how many pills I took.
I dont know how they manufacture those pills, but they need to go back to the drawing board as they are missing something significant.
Crazy how those pills cost 650 dollars for my insurance co; I coulda bought a golden sack for that price...

I think that when mj finally becomes legal nationwide in the US; there will be a significant amount of scientific research done that will connect at least a few polypotency dots that most simply dont have the finances to currently support.

But until that happens, this site is worth more to me than all the tea in china.

Thanks for alls input in every respect!! bongsmilie



 
"I am almost positive that THC alone will not give you the high that you expect. That’s why the THC pill deal didn't work out to well, in my opinion."

I think you are onto something there; I tried the marinol THC pills and a killer headache was all I got out of it no matter how many pills I took.
I dont know how they manufacture those pills, but they need to go back to the drawing board as they are missing something significant.
Crazy how those pills cost 650 dollars for my insurance co; I coulda bought a golden sack for that price...

I think that when mj finally becomes legal nationwide in the US; there will be a significant amount of scientific research done that will connect at least a few polypotency dots that most simply dont have the finances to currently support.

But until that happens, this site is worth more to me than all the tea in china.

Thanks for alls input in every respect!! bongsmilie
What a find.. Can I ask if it was Racy? Did it elevate your heart rate? Did you have any symptoms of paranoia? I have a bet with someone that THC elevates heart rates and in general is not very good for you.. Despite what all the growers and medical talking heads say…
 

drumbum3218

Well-Known Member
proposterous. One boring strain? out of the billions of plants growing wild and in cultivation? Each plant comes from a vast gene pool capible of producing tons of seeds, each with their own unique expressions of their genes. "strains". There are so many differences and mutations, even if there was a freak accident that left only one useable mj plant left on the entire planet, it would not take long for numbers to increase. Each plant from the next generation produced from this "sole survivor" would be different and its own "strain". After several thousand plants and some generations, selective breeding would be back to where it is today
 

Sparky4u

Active Member
"What a find.. Can I ask if it was Racy? Did it elevate your heart rate? Did you have any symptoms of paranoia? I have a bet with someone that THC elevates heart rates and in general is not very good for you.. Despite what all the growers and medical talking heads say… "

I didnt get that much of a racy aspect per se, and no paranoia.
The headaches are more intense than anything else for me. It didnt take more than ten minutes for it to ensue after first pill, and I popped more trying to dissipate it, to no avail. It also made me sleep more than ever, without any reward or gained/rejuvenated energy from it.
 

Sparky4u

Active Member
Just found another thread with a resin production/environmental condition and its affects:
https://www.rollitup.org/general-marijuana-growing/254999-great-read-effects-enviromental-conditions.html

from other thread:
"Sorry this is so HUGE. I didnt write this. It is from a man David W. Pate and his sources. It also goes to reason that the introduction of UV-B rays will increase resin production. Take a Afgani strain of cannabis, look at were it comes from. A hot arid (no humidity) climate. Their is also tons of sun shine ( means more UV-B rays) and plenty of wind movement. I think now people have a better understanding on organic growing and how much better is makes your plants, making the area you grow in as close the land environment the strain is from is the next step. Not all cannabis strains are from the same environment, and with all the hybridizing its hard to tell what strain came from which part of the world. If there were some studies that would take a look at the effect that different climate conditions had on different strains of cannabis im sure we would be surprised.

Once again sorry for it being so large. Its a great read if you want to read it all. Also I felt it important to leave his sources in the post, which is a large part of the overall post. Thanks

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.

gland-01.gif
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 197. 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. (197 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 198. 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).

molecule.gif
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. (198 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."
 

CrackerJax

New Member
Another form of plant armor.

+rep for the article.... very interesting. Having the CBC&D change back and forth to the environment was illuminating.

Nature is amazing.
 

dingbang

Active Member
Had to read it twice to really absorb it all but well worth the time. Thanks for sharing Sparky.

There are a lot of great minds in this thread, thank you all for sharing your thoughts on this topic. I am no scholarly geneticists, nor am I an accomplished grower even though I have been taking stabs at it for almost 20 years, but I have more fear of what feminized seeds and ruderalis genetics may do to future strains. I may be ignorant and paranoid but if so....explain to me why in a kind manner of your preference.
 

Ole Budheavy

Well-Known Member
I think we all as growers and potential breeders if not already breeders, should take a page from guys like DJ Short for instance who created the blue family from quite a diverse gene pool. :weed:

Here is what I'm talking about:

I used three P1 strains to breed Blueberry, Flo and others. They were the Highland Thai (also called Juicy Fruit Thai, a first-generation Thai seed grown in the Pacific Northwest); a cross called Purple Thai which was a first generation land-race Chocolate Thai crossed once with a first generation land-race Highland Oaxaca Gold; and an Afghani Indica which came to me one generation removed from Afghanistan via the California/Southern Oregon growing community. :clap::clap::clap:
 

ink the world

Well-Known Member
Has anyone else started to worry about cannabis strains becoming so inter bred that it creates one boring strain?

A good example is DNA. I have grown out several of there strains and find them all too similar to really call different strains, really. They grew the same, looked the same, and had the same potency/high.




CK
I have to disagree w/ on DNA's stuff all being the same. I perpetually grow Hashplant x Haze, Kushberry along w/ Violator Kush, The Church and just started w Sharksbreath.

My Hashplant x Haze is very sativa dominant, they take 10 weeks in flower to finish. The high is a nice social buzz after 10 minutes of being retarded, the taste is OK.

My Kushberry is Indica dominant, very stout and bushy. Has a nice berry taste w/ a kind of fuel taste on the end.
Much more of a couchlock high.

Different growth characteristics, different flowering times, different tastes and different highs.

I cant speak firsthand about Sharksbreath as far as taste and smell, Im just vegging now. Although it does look different than my Kushberry.

Great thread w/ a ton of information. Ive always "made" my own seeds, but Im interested in getting into the more technical and refined aspects of it.
 

Jester88

Well-Known Member
my views are we should be fine. although what you say has some merrit we could alweays just start again.

as for the landrace strains they will allways be there and only bred withing the same colony that is why they are landrace strains... they have been grown in the natural surroundings for a period of time that they have adapted to the environment.

generally the breeding of a landrace strain is pretty strait forward as its basically a sitcho of pic the best cross when you get to the heart of it all. as by the time they have reached landrace status they should be fairly uniform or at least according to equilibrium. though this can be changed rather easily. but as you can see they will generally be easily available in there old origional form in there homeland and ready to be manipulated any time. most of the time its just the best males and best females that get picked. KOG is a good example of this and i bet this is all they do in africa, india, the himilayas etc.

your also going on the assumption that its all different. when in fact cannabis was really only first found in china/the himilayas and spread from there via hands of man and both natural causes. the theory is that they adapted to there environments and whent from there landing us with the three recognized sub categeories indica, sativa and ruderallis. now that being sait there is a few more not so recignized subcategeories. so arent we in fact always breeding with the same genetics anyway. like if the whole adam and eve theory is true we all came from two people. how does that work we ca all breed. we just cant fuck relatives though some of hich is possible ithout hassles if your that way enclined.

not only that but when we breed we are manipulating the genetics to something we want. basically theres always going to be something different to cross it with in this world is my oppinion.

but back to equlibrium
equlibrium has to be maintained to achieve what you are after unless other techniques are utilized. meaning we would all have to grow the same and breed the same etc. when you take the whole world and all its crosses i see this as a teally hard thing to do as there will always be something to cross it with and different cannabinoid profiles and highs to be achieved (this can even be done within the same strain ie: nothern lights variations etc, the breeders were all growing the same strains technically and come out with different results this is because the traits of the plants determined the outcome, they manipulated the genetics by crossing and breeding for these new traits in the genepool untill they have something that breeds true for what they want by manipulating the strains genetics and canabinoid profiles for what they were after. but if what your saying could become a threat perhaps one day if shit went for the worsts but thats why we have genetic preservation labs ie: somewhat of doomsday seedbanks. the closest i can think of is some strains looking like others as the genetics there bred with are closer related strains and look like one, smells/highs of another you would ghave the building blocks for something else as your result opening up a whole different ball game wouldnt you think. ie: red deisel high and smell on a plant that looks like shiva perhaps.

now back to dna seedbank. the way they breed is with cutting and seeds of certain proven strains and make there cross.. like they said on the films they have there males which they try and maintain as the male is like your stud. keep it and show it off with proven crosses etc.. maybe there was similar genetics in the breeds they sold and thats wat you were noticing.

another thing when breeding is compatibility and which has the most dominant traits to be passed on to the kid meaning there should always be a lot of different cannabinol, terpene and plant variation to supply the highs needed in the future.

ive often thought of the day that everyone can grow kick ass cannabis, and possibly step by step cannabis getting stronger and better knowledge of the highs of a strain and its medical uses.

sorry if this makes no sense, and the half finished stuff i lost myself a few times as ive had a mate pop round, had a few chops amongst other things lol.

but theres my two bob.
peace out
j88
 
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