Maximum Yield Cannabis USA March/April 2019 | Page 43

This is why terpenes are more important than previously
thought. It has been proven that terpenes can get inside
different types of cancer to stop replication.
Cannabinoid ratios differ greatly in the various strains of
weed and are associated with the production of terpenes.
High-CBD strains produce high levels of myrcene as CBD
synthase converts cannabigerol (CBG) into CBD and the
associated terpenes. High-THC strains produce large
levels of lemonene and pinene as the THC synthase
converts tetrahydrocannabinolic acid (THC-A) into THC,
tetrahydrocannabivarin (THC-V), and cannabichromine (CBC).
THC Terpenes Rely on Minerals and UV-B
These terpenes are mineral dependent for their production
in trichomes, so let’s discuss the metal ions necessary
for terpene production along with the light frequencies
involved for synthesis, as well as those involved with
terpene emittance and storage in flowering cannabis. Yes,
that’s right, something many growers are not aware of is
that the final fragrance of weed can be made stronger in the
last 72 hours before harvest and curing.
Ultraviolet-B is required during flowering phase to stimulate
genetic plastids in the trichome disc cells to create enzymes
required for terpenes and cannabinoid synthesis.
But there are other photosynthetic processes in the phyto-
chromes that can be employed to mediate light/dark signaling
that increase terpene content and production.
First off, several metal ions are necessary since most terpene
cyclases require a divalent ion such as magnesium (Mg 2+ ) or
manganese (Mn 2+ ) for the cyclization of substrates. They are
also necessary for THC-A conversion to THC by THC synthase.
Moreover, all terpene cyclases, including limonene synthase,
require either Mg 2+ or Mn 2+ .
To explain the roles of Mg 2+ and Mn 2+ in terpene cyclization,
it has been proposed that these metal ions might neutralize
the negative charge of the diphosphate moiety and assist in
ionization of the allylic diphosphate substrate to create the
geranyl diphosphate terpene precursor molecule.
What is clear, however, is that divalent metal ions Fe (iron)
and Mn (manganese) have been shown clearly in dispensary
bud tests to affect levels of THC and CBD because deficiencies
of Mn 2+ (for THC) and Fe 2+ (for CBD) in fertilizers during growth
directly affect synthesis of THC and CBD.
Red Light and Terpene Potency
As shown earlier, CBD and THC levels are strongly related
to mycrene and lemonene production. Everything is tied to
adequate micronutrient minerals and specific light frequen-
cies to form cannabinoids and terpenes. However, some
frequencies that are eliminated at the end of growth can
produce very strong terpene potency and subsequent highly
fragrant dried buds.
“Something many growers are not aware of
is that the final fragrance of weed can be
made stronger in the last 72 hours before
harvest and curing.”
ANANDAMIDE
THC
NERVE CELL
RECEPTOR
NERVE CELL
Anandamide and THC molecular structures are similar.
This allows for THC to mimic anandamide by connecting
the nerve cell receptor in its place.
Several light sensitive photoreceptors outside the trichomes
are involved in the processes of production and emission of
terpenes, and different trichomes are dependent upon specific
wavelengths of light to be activated or deactivated. Emission
of terpenes is a process that is entirely dependent upon phyto-
chromes and red and far-red light cues in most plant species.
This is especially useful for growers using LED systems
because it has been proven that if red LED light is eliminated
during the last 72 hours of growth and only white and blue
LEDs are used, the plant continues to synthesize terpenes, but
a lack of red light to trigger the phytochrome results in a lack
of terpene emission by the plant. This causes the terpenes to
accumulate in the maturing trichomes.
The good news is that eliminating red light at the end of a
flowering cycle has almost no effect on the final cannabi-
noid content of dried and cured buds. For stronger fragrance,
medical potency, and higher commercial value of your buds,
cut out red light 72 hours prior to harvest.
Maximum Yield
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