brown_thumb
Active member
If UV light stimulates trichome production then why do I consistently see more sugar on deep inner leaves completely shaded from light?
The effect is on a genetic level. UV activates important genes for plant maturation.
Any scientific background supporting that?
I've read a lot about UV in growing weed and I've found contradictory results.
Yes but its a bit complicated as published cannabis research is still lacking a bit and loads of people have thought UVs to be a holy grail and kind of applied them wrong.
If you search for genetic effects of uvs on plants on ncbi.com you'll find lots of research in this field, imo the research on other plants is applicable to cannabis. It is widely proven and acknowledged that in all plants that produce terpenes/phenols/flavonoids/alkaloids etc protective secondary metabolite substances (which i think is all plants?) uvs induce epigenetic changes that increase a range of antioxidant protective substances based on the intensity of the spectrum at different bands. It appears from a glut of studies the UVs modulate the terpenes based on which absorb at the exact spectrum you are hitting them with.
If you know the absorbance spectra of the terpene you want you can increase it by getting diodes that hit that peak because the plant upregulates its synthesis obviously. This will come at a cost to energy going into other terps. Basically one of the big differences between ganja grown outside in different parts of the world. Like that amazing hawaiian weed, anyone ever thought about passed on genetic changes from that lovely Hawaiian sun and sunsets..
Cannabis isnt very different at all from basil or thyme or rosemary, mint etc etc in this regard.
Also the far red and infrared spectrum delivered in the dawn light helps plants use the UVs throughout the day without being harmed as much or at all.
Honestly I rarely run around providing research for anyone.. ive done too many courses and it triggers me to be forced to provide research papers for someone.. fucking dissertations..
It didn't answer my question. Any science backing that? Just a single scientific paper will do. "IMOs" don't.
Cheers
Well, that's interesting. But after reading some texts, I've also found contradictory results.
This text https://www.researchgate.net/public...ret_Beauty_of_Ultraviolet_Radiation_in_Plants is the easiest one. If you read it, it says this:
[URL=https://www.icmag.com/ic/picture.php?albumid=75868&pictureid=1949316&thumb=1]View Image[/URL]
So, again contradictory results.
Also, even if UVB activates some genes, these aren't that important to plant maturation. Plants grown without any UVB mature and reproduce perfectly well.
Do we have something better?
The important key in the above is using TOO MUCH uvb has negative impact. I dont doubt that.
You absolutely can grow amazing plants without uvb. For example , a proven cutting a grower can 25%thca without uvb, but with uvb the thca % can end up at 28-30%.
For legal markets obsessed with numbers that is a significant gain.
Having said all that im sure there are varietals that wont tolerate uvb as much as others.
Im not interested in convincing others to try it. I know it brings out some magic in some strains, and for a small tent hobbyist like myself the cost is insignificant.
I would say, spend a hundred bucks on some uvb and test on a couple known plants.
i dont come here to make horses drink fyi..
Nothing exists in isolation in nature.
Last thing ill say, besides again that UVs definitely activate epigenetics in plants like all the rest of the spectrum which is common sense and widely proven, is that UVs kill fungi and bacteria on flowers and pass right through leaves, especially the B and far B, killing intracellular viruses which is pretty useful in a plant where its end product quality is so easily detectable. This isn't my opinion either, but no I'm not putting all the search terms in and wasting my time searching for you, i work 7 days a week.
I dont think UV light particularly increases trichome size or density and they can definitely harm trichomes.