Current Context of Cannabis sativa Cultivation and Parameters Influencing Its Development

Andreia Saragoça, Ana Cláudia Silva, Carla M. R. Varanda, Patrick Materatski, Alfonso Ortega, Ana Isabel Cordeiro and José Telo da Gama ()
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Andreia Saragoça: Biosciences School of Elvas, Polytechnic Institute of Portalegre, 7350-092 Elvas, Portugal
Ana Cláudia Silva: Compañía Extremeña de Investigación y Producción Agroalimentaria S.A., Ctra. Villafranco-Balboa 1.3, 06195 Badajoz, Spain
Carla M. R. Varanda: Universidade de Évora, MED—Mediterranean Institute for Agriculture, Environment and Development & CHANGE—Global Change and Sustainability Institute, Largo dos Colegiais 2, 7004-516 Évora, Portugal
Patrick Materatski: Universidade de Évora, MED—Mediterranean Institute for Agriculture, Environment and Development & CHANGE—Global Change and Sustainability Institute, Largo dos Colegiais 2, 7004-516 Évora, Portugal
Alfonso Ortega: Research Group FBCMP, UEx, Facultad de Ciencias, Universidad de Extremadura, 06008 Badajoz Extremadura, Spain
Ana Isabel Cordeiro: Biosciences School of Elvas, Polytechnic Institute of Portalegre, 7350-092 Elvas, Portugal
José Telo da Gama: Biosciences School of Elvas, Polytechnic Institute of Portalegre, 7350-092 Elvas, Portugal

Agriculture, 2025, vol. 15, issue 15, 1-26

Abstract: Cannabis sativa L. is a versatile plant with significant medicinal, industrial, and recreational applications. Its therapeutic potential is attributed to cannabinoids like THC and CBD, whose production is influenced by environmental factors, such as radiation, temperature, and humidity. Radiation, for instance, is essential for photosynthetic processes, acting as both a primary energy source and a regulator of plant growth and development. This review covers key factors affecting C. sativa cultivation, including photoperiod, light spectrum, cultivation methods, environmental controls, and plant growth regulators. It highlights how these elements influence flowering, biomass, and cannabinoid production across different growing systems, offering insights for optimizing both medicinal and industrial cannabis cultivation. Studies indicate that photoperiod sensitivity varies among cultivars, with some achieving optimal flowering and cannabinoid production under extended light periods rather than the traditional 12/12 h cycle. Light spectrum adjustments, especially red, far-red, and blue wavelengths, significantly impact photosynthesis, plant morphology, and secondary metabolite accumulation. Advances in LED technology allow precise spectral control, enhancing energy efficiency and cannabinoid profiles compared to conventional lighting. The photoperiod plays a vital role in the cultivation of C. sativa spp., directly impacting the plant’s developmental cycle, biomass production, and the concentration of cannabinoids and terpenes. The response to photoperiod varies among different cannabis cultivars, as demonstrated in studies comparing cultivars of diverse genetic origins. On the other hand, indoor or in vitro cultivation may serve as an excellent alternative for plant breeding programs in C. sativa , given the substantial inter-cultivar variability that hinders the fixation of desirable traits.

Keywords: canabinoide synthesis; cannabis flowering; indoor cultivation; light spectrum; plant development; plant hormones; plant physiology; photoperiod effects (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: Q1 Q10 Q11 Q12 Q13 Q14 Q15 Q16 Q17 Q18 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2025
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