Cannabinoids Accumulation in Hemp (Cannabis sativa L.) Plants under LED Light Spectra and Their Discrete Role as a Stress Marker

Simple Summary Cannabinoids accumulation in the hemp plant greatly depends on light quality under a controlled growing system. Sativa-type hemp plant (enriched with THC) increased CBD accumulation under some controlled light combinations. Green light has a significant role in CBD and CBDA synthesis, where FR and UV-A (along with green) play a positive and negative role in this process, respectively. Earlier, cannabinoids were identified as stress markers, but it was unclear which compound/compounds are directly involved with the light stress environment as stress markers in the hemp plant. In our study, THCA showed a significant role as a stress marker followed by CBDA. On the other hand, THC and CBD showed a negligible response as stress response compounds to such conditions. Hemp adaptability through physiological and biochemical changes was studied under 10 LED light spectra and natural light in a controlled aeroponic system. Light treatments were imposed on 25 days aged seedlings for 16 h daily (300 mu mol m(-2) s(-1)) for 20 days. Plant accumulated highest Cannabidiol (CBD) in R-7:B-2:G(1) light treatment, with relatively higher photosynthetic rate and lower reactive oxygen species, total phenol content, total flavonoid content, DPPH radical scavenging capacity, and antioxidant enzymatic activities. Tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) also accumulated at a higher level in white, R-8:B-2, and R-7:B-2:G(1) light with less evidence of stress-modulated substances. These results indicated that CBD and THC have no or little relation with light-mediated abiotic stress in hemp plants. On the contrary, Tetrahydrocannabinolic acid (THCA) was accumulated higher in R-6:B-2:G(1):FR1 and R-5:B-2:W-2:FR1 light treatment along with lower photosynthetic rate and higher reactive oxygen species, total phenol content, total flavonoid content, DPPH radical scavenging capacity, and antioxidant enzymatic activities. However, Cannabidiolic acid (CBDA) was accumulated higher in R-6:B-2:G(1):FR1 light treatment with higher stress-modulated substances and lower physiological traits. CBDA was also accumulated higher in R-8:B-2 and R-7:B-2:G(1) light treatments with less evidence of stress-modulated substances. Besides, Greenlight influenced CBD and CBDA synthesis where FR and UV-A (along with green) play a positive and negative role in this process. Overall, the results indicated that the treatment R-7:B-2:G(1) enhanced the medicinal cannabinoids most, and the role of THCA as a stress marker is more decisive in the hemp plant than in other cannabinoids under attributed light-mediated stress.

Automated summary

The accumulation of cannabinoids in hemp plants is greatly influenced by the quality of light in a controlled growing system. Different light combinations affect the synthesis of CBD and THCA, with THCA playing a significant role as a stress marker. This study suggests that THC and CBD do not show significant stress responses to light conditions compared to THCA.