I know that if a plant with indica genetics is cold stressed it will turn different colors, but what I'm wondering is if the same environmental factors will effect which genes it expresses. Like if a strain has genetics for dense bud structure and a gene for wispy bud structure will hot temperatures cause it to express the genetics for aa wispy bud structure? Or will the temperatures it's exposed to in it's seedling stage effect whether or not it will turn colors later on in flowering? Or if another factor will determine whether a hybrid will exhibit a sativa structure or an indica structure?
Do environmental factors effect which genes are expressed?
- Thread starter Mr.Juana
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RockyMtnMan
Well-Known Member
I think what you are referring to is genetic predisposition, or genetic susceptibility. I believe environment can affect change and cause specific phenotypes to express. As to which factors, cause which expression, I couldn't say.
You could grow clones from the same mother and change the environment slightly each time, but the variables are infinite, so the project would take years and would be difficult to replicate unless logged diligently.
As far as whispy buds occurring, this can happen even in strains that generally produce hard buds.
Plants can form airy buds as a self preservation to allow more air flow to help cool itself, like with upper leaves "cupping" or "canoeing".
I ran cuttings from a mother all last year and in the summer months my yields were lower, even though the plants structure and growth appeared the same as other harvests.
I have seen my neighbor and me, run clones and they come out entirely different.
Different lights, feed etc.
You could grow clones from the same mother and change the environment slightly each time, but the variables are infinite, so the project would take years and would be difficult to replicate unless logged diligently.
As far as whispy buds occurring, this can happen even in strains that generally produce hard buds.
Plants can form airy buds as a self preservation to allow more air flow to help cool itself, like with upper leaves "cupping" or "canoeing".
I ran cuttings from a mother all last year and in the summer months my yields were lower, even though the plants structure and growth appeared the same as other harvests.
I have seen my neighbor and me, run clones and they come out entirely different.
Different lights, feed etc.
Thank you RockyMtnMan that's the answer I was looking for 
well sort of it's part of the answer I was looking for. I'm surprised no one has looked into this, there has to be a study or test floating around somewhere. So if I have this correctly environment does have effect on the phenotype a plant expresses. I'm not talking about feeding schedules though obviously if you feed the plant the right amount it'll yield more but I read something about having a larger amount of certain elements in the soil that'll help influence sex in a seedling that sheds some light, but does this effect other genetics? Now would these expressions be permanent or would they still be able to change? I guess the only real way to test this is to get twin seedlings and subject them to different environments.
well sort of it's part of the answer I was looking for. I'm surprised no one has looked into this, there has to be a study or test floating around somewhere. So if I have this correctly environment does have effect on the phenotype a plant expresses. I'm not talking about feeding schedules though obviously if you feed the plant the right amount it'll yield more but I read something about having a larger amount of certain elements in the soil that'll help influence sex in a seedling that sheds some light, but does this effect other genetics? Now would these expressions be permanent or would they still be able to change? I guess the only real way to test this is to get twin seedlings and subject them to different environments.
churchhaze
Well-Known Member
Yes, absolutely. Consider shade avoidance for example. When a branch is shaded by another branch, some of the Pfr converts to Pr which has a direct effect on gene expression. It will stretch when more of the phyotochromes are in the form of Pr.
Look up phytochromes, cryptochromes, and phototropism. I'm pretty sure the phytochrome system directly affects which genes are expressed.
Look up phytochromes, cryptochromes, and phototropism. I'm pretty sure the phytochrome system directly affects which genes are expressed.
churchhaze
Well-Known Member
He should also want to use leds as a light source in order to more precisely control the spectrum. It would be a pretty pointless experiment to see how HPS differs from MH in affecting gene expression, for example.
churchhaze
Well-Known Member
Here's some more.
churchhaze
Well-Known Member
Also, in order to figure out if something is controlling plant morphology traits through changes in gene expression (like phyotochrome) or directly (like phototrophins), we would need to create mutant strains with certain genes removed/altered. Mutant strains are very commonly used to find whether steps in certain pathways are genetic or not.
