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What is the biological purpose of terpenes?
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What is the biological purpose of terpenes?
Ive read a couple of things, draw in pollinators, dissuade predators, intermediates that change between different chemicals in the plant, used as a signal to other plants that there are benefits or dangers in the environment or even notifies others that flowering is approaching…..
Just seems like purpose begets understanding, which leads to innovation.
Anyone have any insights?
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19 Replies
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I’m reading “The Light Eaters” by Zoe Schlanger and that’s exactly the kind of communications and interactions she describes. And it really is incredible the array of chemical signals cannabis sends out, apparently. Scent, pheromones, chemical…All from one lively, chatty plant…
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Interesting, ill have to have a gander at that book. Thanks
Somehow i imagine its all those things and probably more lol Nature be naturing
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That is a fantastic book! I read it twice!
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Oh yeah, we’re babes in the woods at this stuff. Nature is complicated and knotty. We keep pecking away understanding more and more but…yeah. Nature gets ‘er done without our help. Or even awareness, lol…
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One of those things ive read was they use it to attract pollinators, but
i always thought it was pollinated by the wind. Has any outdoor growers
experienced non-predator insects congregating around your plants? -
While I don’t know if it’s ever been studied or not but I’ve always believed that the terpenes was a signal to animals that it could be used for ailments. I had also believed at one point that we get terpenes from the environment the ancestors were grown in. I mean that’s the story on strawberry cough right? But take what i say with a grain of salt. As im not a scientist.
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interesting theory for sure!
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It makes sense to me, Angus.
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Also male’s do grow flowers and attracts pollinators. So that is a thing too.
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From what i have just read…..grain of salt…..they arent flowers because they dont produce nectar. But the reason the pollinators are attracted to the male is because the pollen. its a great source of protein apparently.
Makes sense why the cannabis would call them over with terps then. increased pollination rate vs. wind
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Taste … Isn’t the terpines where the taste comes from?
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yep, for sure. i was just wondering about the plants motivation to create them
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A ‘Coevolutionary Arms Race’ as the terpenes no longer were effective against their predators, or no longer attracted beneficial organisms, the evolved alongside them, producing new terpenes that were more effective. There are thousands of terpenes in plants, my mind is blown. You made me curious so i went down a rabbit hole on terpenes. I landed on this publishing. I didnt realize that they even signal a treat for mycorazi.
https://doi.org/10.1111/nph.14178
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Thats awesome, thanks!
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Wow….thanks!
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They attract pollinators, a form of defense against predators and pathogens. My favorite is they serve as signaling molecules for communication. They can signal to neighbor plants of dangers, foods, stress, even for reproduction
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thanks everyone , that was very informative
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