Gland Distribution and Cannabinoid Content in Clones of Cannabis Sativa L.

Abstract

The relationship between glandular trichomes and cannabinoid content in Cannabis sativa L. was investigated. Three strains of Cannabis, which are annuals, were selected for either a drug, a non‐drug, or a fiber trait and then cloned to provide genetically uniform material for analyses over several years. The distribution of the number and type of glands was determined for several organs of different ages including the bract and its subtending monoleaflet leaf and the compound leaf on pistillate plants. Quantitation of glands on these structures was integrated with gas chromatographic analyses of organ cannabinoid profiles. A negative correlation was found between cannabinoid content and gland number for each of the three clones. Isolated heads of the capitate‐stalked glands also were analyzed for cannabinoid content and found to vary in relation to clone and gland age. These studies indicate that cannabinoids may occur in plant cells other than glandular trichomes. The results of these studies emphasize the need for stringent sampling procedures in micromorphological studies on trichome distribution and analytical determinations of cannabinoid content in Cannabis.

Morphogenesis of Capitate Glandular Hairs of Cannabis sativa (Cannabaceae)

“…These .data indicate that c.apitatesessile gland production does cease early III bract growth and that the nu~ber of the~e glan?s remains quite constant dunng the ensumg peno~of bract growth. Similar findings were determined by Turner, Hemphill, and Mahlberg (1977) for drug and non-drug lines of other varieties of Cannabis.…”

Quantitative Determination of Cannabinoids in Individual Glandular Trichomes of Cannabis Sativa L. (Cannabaceae)

“…Although capitate-sessile glands are present on bracts, they are at times difficult to distinguish from young capitatestalked glands. Therefore, for this study capitatesessile glands were sampled from vegetative leaves where capitate-stalked glands are rarely present; none have been observed in any of our studies (Hammond andMahlberg, 1973, 1977;Turner et al, 1977).…”

“…GLANDULAR trichomes are prominent features on the shoot system of Cannabis sativa L. Several studies using histochemical and analytical procedures support an interpretation that cannabinoids, terpenophenolic compounds present only in Cannabis, accumulate in glandular trichomes (Fujita et a\., 1967;Fairbairn, 1972;Malingre et al, 1975;Andre and Vercruysse, 1967;Turner, Hemphill, and Mahlberg, 1977). Of the numerous cannabinoid compounds known, the major ones include cannabidiol (CBD), cannabinol (CBN), cannabichromene (CBC), and Il!l_ tetrahydrocannabinol (1l 9 -T H C) (Mechoulam , 1973;Report, United Nations, 1976).…”

“…MATERIALS AND METHODs-Plants used in this study were derived from two sources. Strains 152 and 87 were cloned plant material (Turner et al, 1977) while the Mexican and Turkish strains were grown from seed. Seeds of the Mexican strain were obtained from a police seizure (Hammond and Mahlberg, 1973).…”

Legal cannabis laws, home cultivation, and use of edible cannabis products: A growing relationship?

“…One theory relates to the THC content in different parts of the cannabis plant. Some reports indicate that growers cut off the lower-THC parts of the plant (leaves and stems) (Doorenbos, Fetterman, Quimby, & Turner, 1971; Small, 2016a, 2016b; Turner, Hemphill, & Mahlberg, 1977; Weisheit, 1991) and then, using large quantities of these leftover parts, employ cannabinoid extraction procedures to concentrate high levels of THC into smaller-volume products such as edibles (Rosenthal, 2014; Small, 2016b). …”