Light matters: Effect of light spectra on cannabinoid profile and plant development of medical cannabis (Cannabis sativa L.)

Light is a key factor affecting plant growth, metabolism and function. Metabolic processes in plants are sensitive to the ratio of Blue:Red light, and there is an increasing awareness that the response to the ratio of these monochromatic lights may vary under exposure to a wider range of the spectrum, such as white light. Due to the potential for regulation of the therapeutic chemical profile and plant development, this issue is of growing interest for the cannabis (Cannabis sativa L.) industry that uses photosynthetic light extensively. Cannabis is a medicinal plant treasured for its secondary metabolites, especially cannabinoids, the unique biologically active compounds in the plant that are considered to be affected by light spectra. In this study we evaluated the hypothesis that the ratio of Blue:Red light affects cannabinoid metabolism, and that plant growth and secondary metabolism is intensified under a full spectrum with similar Blue:Red ratio. Our results point to several spectra specific reactions and some cultivar dependent responses to light spectrum. i. Yield quantity: The highest inflorescence yields were obtained when the spectrum was restricted to the red and blue range at the ratio of 1:1, and in two of the three varieties tested a ratio of 1:4 Blue:Red light had similar results. White light with Blue:Red ratio of 1:1 had the lowest yield. ii. The chemical profile was also affected by the light spectrum, and CBGA, the primary cannabinoid and a precursor for most other cannabinoids, demonstrated the highest response. CBGA accumulation was stimulated by blue-rich light as compared with far-red rich HPS light. The major cannabinoids CBDA, THCA and CBCA were also affected by light quality, and the response was cultivar specific and less pronounced than for CBGA. iii. Plant morphology: Blue light was most inductive for maintaining compact plants, more so than Red:Far-Red ratio. Our results repute the hypothesis that full spectrum improves inflorescence yield compared with Blue:Red light, but support the hypothesis that light spectrum influences plant development and the cannabinoid profile, which could be used to fine-tune cannabis and cannabinoid production.

Automated summary

Light plays a crucial role in affecting plant growth, metabolism, and function, with different light spectra impacting plant yield, chemical profiles, and morphology, especially in relation to cannabinoid metabolism in cannabis plants.