Date of Award
12-1-2024
Degree Name
Master of Science
Department
Plant, Soil, and Agricultural Systems
First Advisor
Leme, Jose
Second Advisor
Gage, Karla
Abstract
AN ABSTRACT OF THE THESIS OFSpencer Schuchman, for the Master of Science degree in Plant, Soil, and Agricultural Systems presented on October 18th, 2024, at Southern Illinois University Carbondale. TITLE: THE ROLE OF METHYL JASMONATE IN MODULATING TRICHOME DENSITY, GROWTH, YIELD, AND CANNABINOID ACCUMULATION IN CANNABIS SATIVA L.MAJOR PROFESSOR: Dr. Jose LemeThe relaxation of laws surrounding the cultivation of hemp (Cannabis sativa L.) in recent years has sparked the revitalization of hemp’s use for fiber, food, medicine, as well as recreational purposes. Although the cultivation of hemp is now legal with proper documentation, growers face challenges associated with decades of prohibition, creating an evident gap in knowledge and the need for novel cultivation techniques to improve production standards. A significant determinant of yield quality in high cannabinoid hemp is the density of glandular trichomes and the concentration of cannabinoids these structures contain. Techniques that could manipulate these properties would be inherently valuable to cultivation outcomes. A collection of outdoor and indoor studies revealed that the exogenous application of methyl jasmonate (MeJa) yielded significant increases in trichome density. However, counterintuitively, no increases in cannabinoid concentration were observed to accompany this increase in glandular trichome density. These results contradict similar works where increases in cannabinoid content were observed but not increases in trichome density. This raises the question of how genetic predisposition influences the activity of the plant mechanisms enacted upon by MeJa that ultimately modulate the upregulation of associated genes that determine trichome induction and secondary metabolite synthesis. Unexpected interactions between MeJa and insecticide, as well as ammonium bicarbonate, further illuminate the need for further research to determine the genetic factors involved in modulating the plant’s response to MeJa. The current research sheds light on the importance of genotype in concern to hemp cultivation, where cultivar selection strongly determines cultivation outcomes. Although the current research outlines the promising potential of the stimulatory effects of methyl jasmonate, further research should be conducted to reveal the complexities of its effects on important hemp attributes and how its addition into a production system interacts with other important management strategies and final yield/quality.
Access
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