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
Cannabis stands out from other plants for its tolerance to high light intensity. see Ideal light conditions
Respiration
Most plants are constantly respiring and cannabis is no exception. In the process of repiration plants uptake Oxygen and expel Carbon dioxide.
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. Cannabis loses 97% of water it absorbs via transpiration, this is a typical characteristic of a C3 plant.
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]
More on circadian rhythm in plants[4]
Plant responses to circadian rhythm
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