Plant processes

There are many biological processes that occur, mostly simultaneously, in a living plant. Some processes continue even after the cultivar is harvested like in the case of the curing process.

Gas exchange

Plants draw in CO₂, Oxygen, and water vapor from the air around them via the Stomata. These compounds are essential to other processes such as photosynthesis and Respiration. Airflow/wind speed has a strong effect on transpiration rate, gas exchange, and photosynthesis.^[1]

Photosynthesis

The Cannabis plant photosynthesizes in the presence of light like most plants, it is categorized as a C3 plant.

C3 carbon fixation in photosynthesis leads to several characteristics:

Thrives where CO₂ concentration is > 200ppm (cannabis specifically thrives in >400ppm CO₂)
Cannot survive in very hot environments
Loses 97% of water via transpiration

Cannabis stands out from other plants for its tolerance to high light intensity. see Ideal light conditions

Respiration

In the dark plants respire instead of photosynthesizing. In this period they uptake Oxygen and expel Carbon dioxide via Gas exchange.

Transpiration

The cultivar constantly moves water around internally and releases water vapour into the environment through the stomata. The rate of transpiration is correlated to the light intensity the plant is being exposed to i.e. High light intensity equals high rate of transpiration. The rate of transpiration also indicates the rate of nutrient uptake.

Circadian rhythm

Like animals, plants also have a Circadian rhythm, a sort of internal biological clock that is programmed by external stimuli. It has been shown that matching a plant's environment to its natural circadian rhythm can increase photosynthesis^[2]^[3]

References

↑ https://doi.org/10.1016/S0273-1177(02)00747-0 - Effects of air current speed on gas exchange in plant leaves and plant canopies (2003)
↑ https://doi.org/10.1126%2Fscience.1115581 - Plant Circadian Clocks Increase Photosynthesis, Growth, Survival, and Competitive Advantage (2005)
↑ https://doi.org/10.3389/fpls.2015.00245 - Interactions between circadian clocks and photosynthesis for the temporal and spatial coordination of metabolism (2015)
↑ https://doi.org/10.1105/tpc.106.040980 Plant Circadian Rhythms - C. Robertson McClung April 2006

[1] ttps://doi.org/10.1016/S0273-1177(02)00747-0 - Effects of air current speed on gas exchange in plant leaves and plant canopies (2003)

[2] ttps://doi.org/10.1126%2Fscience.1115581 - Plant Circadian Clocks Increase Photosynthesis, Growth, Survival, and Competitive Advantage (2005)

[3] ttps://doi.org/10.3389/fpls.2015.00245 - Interactions between circadian clocks and photosynthesis for the temporal and spatial coordination of metabolism (2015)

[4] ttps://doi.org/10.1105/tpc.106.040980 Plant Circadian Rhythms - C. Robertson McClung April 2006

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