Why C. sativa makes cannabinoids

[Beverly J. Brown]

Hi all,

We are doing discussions of student topics and C.s. is the current one. Does anyone know why the plant makes cannabinoids? secondary metabolite? Oddly enough, searches don't turn up much on this topic.

Thanks in advance for any help you can provide,

Beverly

Beverly J. Brown, Ph.D., HTR
Associate Professor
Director, Horticultural Therapy Program
McCarty Greenhouse and Dooley-Mittermeyer Garden Director
Biology Department, Peckham Hall 104
Nazareth College of Rochester
4245 East Avenue
Rochester, New York 14618
585-389-2555 (phone)
bbr...@naz.edu

[Janice Glime]

Hi Beverly and all,
In Bryophytes, secondary metabolites are well known for their roles
in antiherbivory and antibiotics, so I tried a Google Scholar search
for plant defense cannabinoids. For example, here is one that came
up:
Kutchan, T. M. 2001. Ecological Arsenal and Developmental
Dispatcher. The Paradigm of Secondary Metabolism. Plant Physiology
125: 58-60.
In the past 25 years we have transcended the view of plant secondary
metabolites as one of nature's meaningless waste products to one in
which secondary metabolites play critical roles in plant development
and defense. They are no longer only fortuitously formed chemicals
that serve mankind as pharmaceuticals and pesticides. We now
understand that secondary metabolites can provide a local or a
systemic defense response to pathogen and herbivore attack. They have
an integral role in plant growth, development, symbiosis, and
reproduction. This list is certain to grow as we discover additional
important functions for secondary metabolites in the years to come.
Janice Glime

[1]bbr...@naz.edu

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Dr. Janice Glime, Professor Emerita
(Michigan Technological University)
Manager of Bryonet, Past President of IAB
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Houghton, MI 49331 USA
email: [4]jmg...@mtu.edu
phone: 906-482-1610

References

1. mailto:bbr...@naz.edu
2. mailto:Plan...@net.bio.net
3. http://www.bio.net/biomail/listinfo/plant-ed
4. mailto:jmg...@mtu.edu