Hemp Research Open Day, University of Illinois Urban-Champaign
Currently, I am involved in hemp seed production, specifically focusing on open-pollinated seed production. We have selected certain plots for donor pollens, and apart from these, I am diligently removing all male plants. Concurrently, I am studying hemp, a subject I hadn’t previously encountered. Earlier, I uploaded a post about how to distinguish between male and female hemp flowers.
□ How to distinguish male and female flowers of hemp (Cannabis sativa)?
Last week I joined “Hemp Research Open House” held by the University of Illinois Urban-Champaign, and it was very helpful time to study hemp.
First, there was a short presentation about hemp, which proved to be very useful. The most intriguing thing I heard during the presentation was that silver nitrate could induce the production of more male flowers in hemp. This is in stark contrast to cucumber, where silver nitrate is known to generate female flowers.
What is hemp?
Hemp is a type of Cannabis sativa plant that is grown specifically for industrial use. The term “hemp” is often used to distinguish these low-THC (delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol) varieties of Cannabis from those with higher THC levels, which are often referred to as marijuana. In other words, industrial hemp is characterized by having a low THC content compared to marijuana. By legal definition in the U.S., industrial hemp contains less than 0.3% THC (by dry weight), which means it does not have significant psychoactive effects.
Here’s how you can distinguish the two based on THC content:
- Marijuana: This type of Cannabis sativa is specifically cultivated for its high THC content, which can vary depending on the strain, growing conditions, and harvesting time. Typically, THC content in marijuana can range from 5% to over 20%.
- Industrial Hemp: In contrast, industrial hemp is bred to have very low THC levels. In the United States, for example, federal law defines industrial hemp as any part or derivative of the Cannabis sativa plant with a THC concentration of no more than 0.3% on a dry weight basis.
Cannabidiol, more commonly known as CBD, can indeed be produced from hemp. Hemp is a type of Cannabis Sativa plant that has been bred to contain high levels of CBD and very low levels of THC (delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol).
It’s important to note that while hemp is a variety of Cannabis sativa, not all cannabis is hemp. The name “cannabis” refers to a genus of flowering plants in the family Cannabaceae, which includes both hemp and marijuana. While both Cannabis sativa and Cannabis indica are subspecies of the Cannabis genus, they differ in several ways that can be used to differentiate them.
Here are some general differences:
- Cannabis sativa plants are tall, loosely branched and have long, narrow leaves. They are typically a lighter shade of green. Sativa plants can grow upwards of 12 feet tall in the right conditions.
- Cannabis indica plants are short, densely branched and have wider leaves. They are typically a darker green. Indica plants generally grow between 2 to 4 feet tall.
We took a tour of the hemp field, and it was evident that environmental stresses have an impact on hemp growth. It was clear that low nitrogen levels result in slower growth. During the field excursion, I learned that environmental stresses tend to induce the production of male flowers.
Hemp has an wide range of uses. Seeds can be consumed or used to produce hemp seed oil. The plant’s stalks can be used to produce fiber for a range of textile applications including rope, clothing, and paper. It is also used in the production of biodegradable plastics, insulation, and even bio-fuel.
I was very surprised to learn that hemp could be used as bio-plastic. Now, I’m highly interested in hemp physiology.
