Cannabis Botany Exam I Flash Cards

Vegetative Growth

The growth phase of cannabis where the plant increases, size, foliage, and branches, before entering the reproductive (flowering) stage.

Autoflowering

A characteristic of some cannabis varieties which flower based on age rather than photoperiod, allowing rapid and continuous production unimpeded by light cycles.

Chemotype

A classification based on the chemical composition (mainly cannabinoid content) of cannabis, denoting different types for legal and commercial purposes.

What is the correct equation for converting acidic cannabinoid content to its equivalent neutral amount?

Neutral content = 0.8772 x Acidic content

Propagation

The process of multiplying plants, in cannabis achieved through seeds, stem cuttings, or tissue culture to ensure uniformity and desired plant traits.

How many chromosomes does cannabis have?

20

In controlled commercial cannabis production, what factor besides genetics can significantly influence the efficiency and quality of clone-grown plants?

Growth conditions

How are Asian cannabis plants typically reproduced according to traditional cultivation methods?

By seeds

Grafting

horticultural technique for asexual plant propagation where tissues from one plant (the scion) are joined with the tissues of another (the rootstock) so they heal and grow as single plant.

Cloning cuttings

Method of asexual plant propagation where a piece of a plant, such as a steam, left, or root, is cut and placed in a suitable environment to grow into a new, genetically identical plant.

Tissue Culture

Young plants grown in vitro (in a sterile laboratory setting) from tiny pieces of plant tissue, such as a lead or stem, that are placed on a nutrient-rich growth medium.

Which reference specifically explores soilless cultivation techniques for a drug type Cannabis sativa?

Zheng (2021)

What is one main advantage of growing cannabis indoors compared to outdoors?

It is easier to control the light schedule indoors.

Glandular trichomes

Tiny specialized hairs on cannabis flowers that produce and store cannabinoids and terpenes, critical to the plant’s commercial value.

Marijuana

A term that is commonly used to refer to Cannabis sativa varieties cultivated for drug purposes, particularly for their euphoric properties. 

Cannabis sativa

A widely recognized plant species known for its use in fiber (hemp), oilseed, and drug (marijuana/cannabis) production, exhibiting both medicinal and recreational value.

Terpenes

A class of volatile hydrocarbons in cannabis responsible for its distinctive aroma and potential medicinal properties, commonly found in many plants.

Why is it possible to produce up to six cannabis crops annually indoors, compared to just one outdoors?

Indoor lighting can be controlled and scheduled year-round

Hemp

Fiber derived from the stem of Cannabis sativa, or the term for cannabis cultivated for fiber and oilseed with low THC content. 

Buds

Congested clusters of female cannabis flowers rich in cannabinoids and terpenes, representing the principal commercial product in controlled environment cultivation.

Flavonoids

A group of phytochemicals found in cannabis leaves and flowers, known for anti-inflammatory properties and contributing to plant color and potential health benefits.

Why do modern controlled environment cannabis facilities require professional scientific and technological input?

Because modern facilities are much larger and need higher quality standards than earlier amateur operations.

Which of the following is NOT a key adjustment for hurricane preparedness?

Increasing sunlight exposure to homes

Which of the following references discusses the genetic approach to selecting chemotypes in Cannabis sativa?

Pacifico et al. (2006)

What was a major consequence of the prohibition of cannabis in most Western countries during the 20th century?

The rise of a large illicit drug trade and black market

What triggers flowering in most Cannabis sativa plants?

Shortening daylight (longer nights)

Which factor is commonly advertised by authorized cannabis sellers?

the percentage of content of major cannabinoids like delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol and cannabidiol

Why did Western countries prohibit the cultivation of cannabis in the 20th century?

Due to the concern about recreational drug use

Why are commercial controlled environment cannabis production cycles divided into three stages?

To ensure optimal conditions for propagation, vegetative growth, and flowering

Which of the following is a disadvantage of growing plants indoors based on the text?

High infrastructure cost

Which environmental factor is LEAST important for the optimal outdoor growth of cannabis plants according to the text?

Humidity control

What happens to THC when cannabis is stored for a long time or exposed to certain conditions?

It degenerates to CBN, which is less euphoric

Approximately how long does it take after flowers first appear for Cannabis sativa buds to become ready for harvest?

5-10 weeks

What is one reason why indoor cannabis cultivation facilities can be built on any land?

They do not need fertile soil for cultivation

What is the defining structural characteristic of most phytocannabinoids found in Cannabis sativa?

A C21 terpenophenolic skeleton

Why is odor control easier to manage in a fully contained indoor plant production environment compared to a greenhouse?

The air handling system is better managed in an enclosed building

Which of the following is a benefit of using resistive temperature sensors in electronic temperature devices?

Low cost and reliability

Which component in a CEA system provides feedback control by opening and closing the solenoid valve for CO2 delivery?

Controller; it reads the CO2 concentration and provides feedback control to operate the solenoid valve.

What is one reason chilled water systems may be preferred over refrigerant-based condensers in closed environment air dehumidification?

Chilled water systems are less prone to icing and offer easier modulation

Which statement best explains the function of the boundary layer around a leaf in horticulture?

It regulated the exchange between gases and energy between the leaf and the surrounding air.

Greenhouse Production

A method of plant cultivation in enclosed structures (glass or plastic) that optimizes environmental conditions, enabling year-round growth, protection from weather, and resource efficiency.

What is one main advantage of indoor cannabis production compared to greenhouse production?

Year-round controlled climate conditions

Thermocouples

Temperature sensors that generate a voltage proportional to temperature difference between two metals, widely used for monitoring environmental conditions in greenhouses.

Which of the following is a main method used to remove excess water from the air in a closed environment, according to the text?

Passing air over a condensing surface.

Secondary Metabolites

Chemical compounds produced by plants, such as cannabinoids and terpenes, which are not directly involved in growth but influence qualities like flavor, aroma, and medicinal properties. 

Indoor Production

Cultivating crops inside fully enclosed facilities such as grow rooms or chambers, providing total control over environmental factors like light, temperature, humidity, CO2, and air distribution. 

Vapor Pressure Deficit (VPD)

A measure of the difference between the amount of moisture the air can hold when fully saturated and the actual vapor pressure, crucial for regulating plant transpiration rates. 

Photoperiod

The duration of light and darkness a plant is exposed to in a 24-hour period, important for inducing certain life stages like flowering in cannabis. 

Controlled Environment Agriculture (CEA)

Agricultural practices that use technology in automation in controlled spaces (e.g., greenhouses or plant facilities) to regulate all environmental variables for optimal crop yields and quality. 

What is a key advantage of the DALI protocol in lighting systems?

It allows for fully addressable control of intensity and spectrum

Fertigation

A process in which fertilizers are delivered to plants though irrigation water, commonly used in controlled agriculture for precise nutrient management.

Which publication provides detailed information about growth chamber operation?

Plant growth chamber handbook

Which formula is used to calculate the saturated vapor pressure (SVP) when determining the VPD?

SVP = 0.61078 exp(17.27T / (T + 237.3))

How does an air source heat pump heat a building?

By extracting heat from the outdoor air and releasing it indoor.

What is the purpose of the revolving wheel in commercial desiccant dehumidifiers?

To remove moisture from the air using a chemical adsorbent

What unit is commonly used in the industry to quantify the energy needed to remove water vapor from indoor grow environments?

British Thermal Units (BTUs)

What is one advantage of using a chilled water-based condensing system for VPD control?

It allows measurement of water removal to estimate evapotranspiration

Why are blackout curtains used in greenhouses during the summer months for cannabis production?

To provide the required photoperiod for flowering

Which historical event contributed to the modern use of greenhouses for large-scale plant production?

World War II

Which is a primary advantage of bimetallic devices and traditional thermometers for temperature measurement?

They operate without electricity

How does adding heat to the environment affect VPD in a greenhouse?

It increases VPD

What condition must be met for water to collect and drip into the reservoir when using a chilled water heat exchanger?

The condenser temperature must be below the dewpoint

Why is supplemental carbon dioxide often used in greenhouse cannabis production?

To improve crop production

Why is the lack of integration a disadvantage when using single function hardware controllers for environmental control systems?

It prevents subsystems from compensating for each others failures.

What unique feature of infrared heaters when used in greenhouses?

They heat objects directly rather than the air

What is the main advantage of integrated computer controllers over single function hardware controllers?

They allow different subsystems to work together for better overall control

Which device is best suited for delivering air through ducting in indoor plant growth systems?

Blowers; designed to move large volumes of air with moderate pressure increases.

Why are electric resistance heaters generally not favored for large greenhouse operations?

Their operation is too expensive where electricity rates are high

Why is it important to increase temperatures during the bloom stage of plant growth?

To encourage sugar movement to developing flowers

Which material used in plant production can release ethylene gas that affects plant flowering at very low concentrations?

Polyethylene

Which lighting protocol is known for having a delayed response to changes?

DALI

Which lighting technology allowed for both intensity and spectral manipulation in plant production?

Light-emitting diode (LED) systems

What is the most crucial factor for consistent plant production according to the text?

Optimizing and controlling the growing environment

Why are cannabinoids confined to the secretory trichomes in cannabis plants?

Cannabinoids are harmful to plant tissues.

Which structure in Cannabis female flowers contains most of the THC found in the buds?

Perigonal bracts

What is the major reason why preserving Cannabis plants with high concentrations of rare cannabinoids is considered important?

They have potential economic value and may need to be preserved as clones.

Which factor is important for maintaining germination capacity of Cananbis sativa seeds?

Temperature and moisture content

Which document established the current rules for naming algae, fungi, and plants?

International code of nomenclature (Shenzhen Code, 2018)

Which process was identified as unique in Cannabis sativa for synthesizing plant polyketides?

Olivetolic acid cyclase

Chemotypes

A classification of cannabis based on its chemical compositon, especially relative amounts of THC and CBD; primary types include drug, intermediate, and hemp. 

Sativa-type

a group of cannabis sativa with taller plants, narrow leaves, and reputedly more energizing, euphoric effects, historically widespread in southern Asia.

What is the primary function of trichomes in plants according to the provided text?

Providing defense against threats

Which of the following methods can be used to rapidly generate genetically identical plantlets?

Encapsulation of tissue culture to form synthetic seeds.

What is the main advantage of colas with heavily congested main axis inflorescences in controlled environments?

They produce buds with limited branching

Which of the following statements best summarizes the main distinction between the two northern and two southern groups of Cannabis sativa described in the text?

The northern groups are primarily low-THC hemp, while the southern groups are drug-oriented strains.

Chemovar

A chemical variety or group of cannabis plants distinguished by a particular chemical profile, especially cannabinoids and terpenes.

CBD (Cannabidiol)

A non-intoxicating cannabinoid found in cannabis, often used for its potential therapeutic properties.

Individual selection

A plant breeding process focusing on evaluating and selecting progeny from a small number of elite individuals.

which traits are said to influence the absolute quantity of cannabinoids produced by a cannabis plant?

Growth and developmental traits.

Inbreeding

A breeding method involving crossing closely related plants (or self-fertilization) to fix traits, which can reduce vigor through increased homozygosity.

Fiber hemp

Cannabis sativa varieties bred for long stalks and fibers, with low THC content.

What did Wenger et al. (2020) validate in their studies involving Cannabis sativa populations?

A predictive model of cannabinoid inheritance.

Landrace

A traditional, locally adapted population of Cannabis or other crops that has developed over time through natural and farmer-driven selection.

Strain

A term used to describe a puportedly unique genetic or phenotypic group of cannabis, though its usage is technically unreliable and often not formally recognized.

Which publication discusses the development and validation of genetic markers for sex and cannabinoid chemotype in Cannabis sativa?

Toth et al. 2020