Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jun 15, 2025

Employing Aeroponic Systems for the Clonal Propagation of Cannabis
Published on: December 1, 2021
Same, yet different: towards understanding nutrient use in hemp- and drug-type Cannabis
Benjamin Wee Y1,2, Oliver Berkowitz1,2, James Whelan1,2,3
1ARC Research Hub for Medicinal Agriculture, Department of Animal, Plant and Soil Sciences, School of Agriculture, Biomedicine and Environment, La Trobe University, Bundoora VIC 3086, Australia.
None:
Cannabis sativa L., one of the oldest cultivated crops, has a complex domestication history due to its diverse uses for fibre, seed, oil, and drugs, and its wide geographic distribution. This review explores how human selection has shaped the biology of hemp and drug-type Cannabis, focusing on acquisition and utilization of nitrogen and phosphorus, and how resulting changes in source-sink relations shape their contrasting phenology. Hemp has been optimized for rapid, slender growth and nutrient efficiency, whereas drug-type cultivars have been selected for compact growth with large phytocannabinoid-producing female inflorescences. Understanding these nutrient use and ontogenetic differences will enhance our general understanding of resource allocation in plants. Knowledge gained in comparison with other model species, such as tomato, rice, or Arabidopsis can help inform crop improvement and sustainability in the cannabis industry.
Related Concept Videos
Key Elements for Plant Nutrition
CNS Stimulants: Cocaine, Amphetamines and Cannabinoids
Drug Concentrations: Measurements
Plasma...
Overview of Metabolism
Plant Metabolism
Sunlight, the primary source of energy in plants, is first absorbed by the chlorophyll pigments present in their leaves. Plants then use this energy to carry out photosynthesis, where water is oxidized into oxygen and carbon dioxide...
Drug Biotransformation: Overview
Drug Absorption: Overview
When drugs are injected intravenously, they directly enter the systemic circulation. Alternatively, orally administered drugs navigate through the gastrointestinal (GI)...

