Next Article in Journal
Genotype × Environment Interaction and Correlations Between Agronomic Traits, Flowering, and Fruit Set in Cassava
Previous Article in Journal
Crosstalk of Abscisic Acid with Other Hormones and Signaling Molecules in Tomato Cold Stress Tolerance
 
 
Search for Articles:
Title / Keyword
Author / Affiliation / Email
Journal
Article Type
 
 
Advanced Search
 
Section
Special Issue
Volume
Issue
Number
Page
 
Journals
Horticulturae
Volume 11
Issue 6
10.3390/horticulturae11060646
horticulturae-logo
Submit to this Journal Review for this Journal Propose a Special Issue
► Article Menu

Article Menu

share Share announcement Help format_quote Cite question_answer Discuss in SciProfiles
first_page
settings
Order Article Reprints
Font Type:
Arial Georgia Verdana
Font Size:
Aa Aa Aa
Line Spacing:
Column Width:
Background:
This is an early access version, the complete PDF, HTML, and XML versions will be available soon.
Review

The Effects of Water-Deficit Stress on Cannabis sativa L. Development and Production of Secondary Metabolites: A Review

by
Shiksha Sharma
1,
Thais Alberti
1,2,
Rodrigo De Sarandy Raposo
1,
Aldwin M. Anterola
1,
Jennifer Weber
1,
Andre A. Diatta
3 and
Jose F. Da Cunha Leme Filho
1,4,*
1
School of Biological Sciences, Southern Illinois University, 1125 Lincoln Dr, Carbondale, IL 62901, USA
2
Laboratory of Natural and Synthetic Products, Biotechnology Institute, University of Caxias do Sul, 1130, Francisco Getúlio Vargas St., Caxias do Sul 95070-560, RS, Brazil
3
Department of Agronomy, Gaston Berger University, Saint-Louis 234, Senegal
4
School of Forestry and Horticulture, Southern Illinois University, 1125 Lincoln Dr, Carbondale, IL 62901, USA
*
Author to whom correspondence should be addressed.
Horticulturae 2025, 11(6), 646; https://doi.org/10.3390/horticulturae11060646
Submission received: 22 April 2025 / Revised: 2 June 2025 / Accepted: 3 June 2025 / Published: 6 June 2025
(This article belongs to the Topic Tolerance to Drought and Salt Stress in Plants, 2nd volume)
Versions Notes

Abstract

Water-deficit stress is typically viewed as detrimental to agricultural yields. It has been found to enhance secondary metabolite concentrations in certain essential oil-producing plants, including Cannabis sativa L. Cannabis is a versatile plant from the Cannabaceae family which is used for its fibers, seeds, and bioactive compounds, including medicinal and recreational cannabinoids. Furthermore, it exhibits significant metabolic shifts under water-deficit stress conditions, which may impact the production of these resources. This review explores the physiological mechanisms underlying the metabolic responses of cannabis to water-deficit stress, focusing on how water-deficit stress could promote the accumulation of secondary metabolites. Water-deficit stress induces metabolic changes in cannabis, leading to secondary metabolite accumulation. Water shortages cause stomatal closure, significantly reducing CO2 uptake and fixation via the Calvin cycle and leading to an oversupply of NADPH+H+. This oversupply allows metabolic processes to shift toward synthesizing highly reduced compounds, such as secondary metabolites. Overall, the literature suggests that the controlled application of water-deficit stress during cannabis cultivation can enhance cannabinoid quality and yields, offering a practical strategy for optimizing plant productivity while addressing current knowledge gaps in metabolic signaling pathways.
Keywords: drought; irrigation; cannabinoids; induced stress; terpenes drought; irrigation; cannabinoids; induced stress; terpenes

Share and Cite

MDPI and ACS Style

Sharma, S.; Alberti, T.; De Sarandy Raposo, R.; Anterola, A.M.; Weber, J.; Diatta, A.A.; Da Cunha Leme Filho, J.F. The Effects of Water-Deficit Stress on Cannabis sativa L. Development and Production of Secondary Metabolites: A Review. Horticulturae 2025, 11, 646. https://doi.org/10.3390/horticulturae11060646

AMA Style

Sharma S, Alberti T, De Sarandy Raposo R, Anterola AM, Weber J, Diatta AA, Da Cunha Leme Filho JF. The Effects of Water-Deficit Stress on Cannabis sativa L. Development and Production of Secondary Metabolites: A Review. Horticulturae. 2025; 11(6):646. https://doi.org/10.3390/horticulturae11060646

Chicago/Turabian Style

Sharma, Shiksha, Thais Alberti, Rodrigo De Sarandy Raposo, Aldwin M. Anterola, Jennifer Weber, Andre A. Diatta, and Jose F. Da Cunha Leme Filho. 2025. "The Effects of Water-Deficit Stress on Cannabis sativa L. Development and Production of Secondary Metabolites: A Review" Horticulturae 11, no. 6: 646. https://doi.org/10.3390/horticulturae11060646

APA Style

Sharma, S., Alberti, T., De Sarandy Raposo, R., Anterola, A. M., Weber, J., Diatta, A. A., & Da Cunha Leme Filho, J. F. (2025). The Effects of Water-Deficit Stress on Cannabis sativa L. Development and Production of Secondary Metabolites: A Review. Horticulturae, 11(6), 646. https://doi.org/10.3390/horticulturae11060646

Note that from the first issue of 2016, this journal uses article numbers instead of page numbers. See further details here.

Article Metrics

Back to TopTop