Trichome Growth on Hemp
Location
College of Science and Mathematics (COSM)
Session Format
Poster Presentation
Co-Presenters and Faculty Mentors or Advisors
Dr. Marylous Machingura, Faculty Advisor
Abstract
Industrial hemp Cannabis sativa, is a multipurpose crop recently legalized for production in the U.S. with several potential products on the market. Currently, hemp is largely grown for the secondary metabolites cannabidiol (CBD) and tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) produced amongst hundreds other plant secondary metabolites. Successful production of the crop is dependent on the selection of high yielding varieties in terms of CBD. The concentration of CBD and THC while largely dependent on the cultivation practices, is also limited by the selection of hemp variety. The secondary metabolites are made and stored in trichomes, hair-like projections found on the epidermal leaf, flower and stalk surfaces. Different types of trichomes have been observed in different hemp varieties. For this work, we looked at trichomes occurring in three hemp varieties at a farm in Statesboro. The objective was to examine the occurrence of specific trichomes, which may be used to determine the best time to harvest the crop and the potential for CBD yield. Leaves and flowers of hemp varieties were obtained and observed under light microscopy. Preliminary results show variations in trichomes occurring in the different hemp varieties.
Creative Commons License
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.
Presentation Type and Release Option
Presentation (Open Access)
Recommended Citation
Rodriguez, Alysa, "Trichome Growth on Hemp" (2021). GS4 Georgia Southern Student Scholars Symposium. 45.
https://digitalcommons.georgiasouthern.edu/research_symposium/2021/2021/45
Trichome Growth on Hemp
College of Science and Mathematics (COSM)
Industrial hemp Cannabis sativa, is a multipurpose crop recently legalized for production in the U.S. with several potential products on the market. Currently, hemp is largely grown for the secondary metabolites cannabidiol (CBD) and tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) produced amongst hundreds other plant secondary metabolites. Successful production of the crop is dependent on the selection of high yielding varieties in terms of CBD. The concentration of CBD and THC while largely dependent on the cultivation practices, is also limited by the selection of hemp variety. The secondary metabolites are made and stored in trichomes, hair-like projections found on the epidermal leaf, flower and stalk surfaces. Different types of trichomes have been observed in different hemp varieties. For this work, we looked at trichomes occurring in three hemp varieties at a farm in Statesboro. The objective was to examine the occurrence of specific trichomes, which may be used to determine the best time to harvest the crop and the potential for CBD yield. Leaves and flowers of hemp varieties were obtained and observed under light microscopy. Preliminary results show variations in trichomes occurring in the different hemp varieties.
