It can be difficult for a cannabis enthusiast who is only interested in finding the ultimate buzz. Finding the right marijuana strain to kick them in the bums, or the perfect pot, can prove challenging. It’s a lot of work to visit dispensaries after dispensaries, and often the staff is unwilling to reveal the stash hidden in the back. We know that they have one. There is much trial and error involved in the process. This quest for constant highness is also bad on the bank account. It’s hard to keep a job when your life work is only to hunt down the strongest pot in the world.
It would be great if there was a quick and easy way to measure the potency of any plant, without investing so much money or time.
It turns out that there are some physical properties in a marijuana plant, which are supposed to let us know how powerful it really is before we even put it into our pipes. A study conducted by the University of British Columbia and published in the Plant Journal The pot is more powerful if the buds are frozen.
The study found that the crystalized hairs, or trichomes, that cannabis enthusiasts have cherished for years are the ones that produce the chemical compounds that confer the psychoactive properties and medicinal qualities to the plant.
The study found that cannabinoids were more abundant in cannabis flowers with more mushroom-shaped fibres. The study found that these frosty characteristics, which act as a protective mechanism for the cannabis plant against UV rays, animals and other elements, are also responsible for its strong aroma. This means that those who aim to grow the most sticky, stinkiest cannabis in history will have to master the art of growing plants rich in trichomes.
“Despite its high economic value, our understanding of the biology of the cannabis plant is still in its infancy due to restricted legal access,” Teagen Quilichini, one of the study authors and postdoctoral fellow at UBC Botany told Science Daily. This study will help us understand how trichomes produce and store the valuable cannabis products.
For years, cannabis experts have focused on three trichomes: bulbous, sessile and stalked. Science has long known the functions of these trichomes, but little is understood about how they influence the potency of the plant.
Researchers used microscopic and chemical profiling techniques to study internal structures, including individual trichomes. They found that each of the three plants produced different colors under ultraviolet light.
“We saw that stalked glandular trichomes have expanded ‘cellular factories’ to make more cannabinoids and fragrant terpenes,” said Sam Livingston, lead author and Ph.D. candidate at UBC Botany. The researchers also observed that these glandular trichomes are formed from sessile like precursors. They undergo a major shift in development, which can be visualized with new microscope tools.
The study shows that this method can be used to test trichome maturation and harvest at the correct time.
Additional discoveries concerning trichome-DNA could also revolutionize cannabis cultivation, according to researchers.
Anne Lacey Samuels a UBC botany professor said: “We have found an incredible treasure trove” of genes supporting the production of terpenes and cannabinoids. This could lead to the development of more productive strains of marijuana or those with specific profiles for cannabinoid- and terpene-contents.
The researchers concluded that more knowledge about how the trichomes function will ultimately help to improve the pot products available for consumers.