By Luke Sumpter


What do you know about cannabinoids and terpenes? You most likely associate them with the effects, tastes, and smells of marijuana. But plants were churning out these molecules long before humanity’s obsession with weed began, using them to protect themselves against pests, defend against disease, and even to communicate with each other.

Plants exist as autonomous entities in nature, and they value their own survival over pleasing us with their tastes, smells, and effects. While we value cannabinoids and terpenes for these purposes, plants create them in order to turn other life forms off.

These molecules work as defence mechanisms against all kinds of stress, including grazing herbivores, nibbling insects, pathogens, and even sunlight.

Have you ever taken a closer look at a cannabis flower? If so, you probably noticed those small, sparkling structures. These frosty shapes are known as trichomes—glands tasked with biosynthesising terpenes and cannabinoids, churning them out in the form of a viscous resin. This gooey layer—the same substance that sticks to your fingers after handling buds—serves as a protective shield against the threats mentioned above.

Below, you’ll discover the biggest challenges that cannabis plants face in the wild and in man-made cultivation spaces, and how cannabinoids and terpenes help them to defy the odds and survive.

Plant Stress Stimulates Cannabinoid and Terpene Production

What do you see when you look at a cannabis plant? They seem quite content, don’t they? You probably wouldn’t complain if you got to spend most of your days sitting in the sun, doing little more than chilling out. However, things aren’t that easy for our botanical buddies. Cannabis plants encounter different kinds of stress on a daily basis. Thankfully, their ability to churn out cannabinoids and terpenes helps them deal with environmental challenges.

Both of these groups of phytochemicals autumn under the umbrella of secondary metabolites. These molecules aren’t directly involved in the growth, development, and reproduction of plants like primary metabolites, but they do help them deal with key stressors.

Find out about the two types of stress that cannabis plants face below.

  • Biotic Stress

Plants are exposed to biotic stress at the hands of other living organisms. To remember this, simply keep in mind that “bio” means “of life”. The main types of biotic stress that cannabis plants face include:

Plant Stress Stimulates Cannabinoid and Terpene Production
  • Abiotic Stress

In contrast, abiotic stress refers to the stress imposed on cannabis plants from non-living sources. Examples of abiotic stress are either physical or chemical, and include:

Plant Stress Stimulates Cannabinoid and Terpene Production

Biochemical Warfare

Every time you’ve sat on your couch and fired up a joint, you probably weren’t aware that you were inhaling a biochemical warfare agent. Indeed, cannabis plants invest precious resources into manufacturing these chemicals to protect them from pest insects.

Some pest infestations only leave a couple of holes, and human stewards often step in to deal with the problem. However, left unchecked, some insect species make fast work of entire cannabis plants. To prevent this from happening, plants deploy terpenes and cannabinoids to drive off the culprits.

If you’ve ever opened a bottle of essential oils and taken a whiff, you’ll know just how potent terpenes are. Now, imagine scaling this down to the level of an insect. Pungent terpenes work as a feeding deterrent, putting some species off chowing down altogether. But that’s not all. When under attack, plants also emit terpenes as signals to attract carnivorous insects[1] that prey on the herbivores inflicting the damage.

But terpenes don’t take all the credit when it comes to insect defence. Some cannabinoids also lend themselves to protecting cannabis plants from attack. CBD exhibits insecticidal properties[2], and THC produces a toxic effect[3] against some insects.

Biochemical Warfare

Protection Against Pathogens

Just like us, cannabis plants get ill when exposed to certain bacteria and viruses, and, just like us, they muster an immune-like response that helps them battle pesky microbes. When pathogens manage to gain a foothold, plants produce more terpenes to increase the chances of survival. Terpenes work as either general or specialised pathogen inhibitors, thanks to their antiviral, antibacterial, and antifungal qualities.

But plants aren’t always successful in this ongoing war. Viruses are dynamic pathogens, and they’re in a constant battle of supremacy against their plant rivals. For example, some plant viruses are able to suppress terpene production.

They Ward Off Herbivores

Insects aren’t the only life forms with a penchant for cannabis. Several mammalian species also like to chomp on cannabis leaves. But cannabis plants don’t just sit helplessly there waiting for these foragers to get full. In fact, they quickly become aware that they’re being chewed, detecting the leaf vibration[4] produced by this lethal snacking and responding accordingly. In an attempt to ward off attackers, plants ramp up terpene production to make themselves less palatable.

  • Natural Sunscreen

Outdoor cannabis plants depend on the sun to survive. However, the sun has a dark side. The rays emitted by this giant ball of gas comprise several different kinds of radiation, including UVA and UVB. You’ll know firsthand how harmful these wavelengths are if you’ve ever spent too long lounging around on the beach. Now imagine being a cannabis plant, sat out in a warm climate all day with absolutely no shelter. How do they handle it?

Well, it turns out they make their own sunscreen. In response to the abiotic stress of UV radiation, cannabis plants churn out higher quantities of secondary metabolites[5]. Not only does this protect them from harmful radiation, but the increase in defensive chemicals may give them an advantage against pathogens and herbivores.

Plant Communication

Plant Communication

So, plants know when they’re being eaten; they’re aware of when they’re getting too much sun. But it doesn’t stop there. Plants also use terpenes to communicate with each other[6]—we’re not kidding. Upon being eaten, attacked, or infected, plants emit terpenes to alert their neighbours.

Airborne terpenes cause a reaction in receiver cells, and plants muster a chemical defence downstream to protect themselves from potential danger.

But plants don’t just use terpenes to communicate with other organisms above the ground. They also use these molecules as a chemical language[7] to interface with a host of living organisms in the soil, including bacteria, fungi, and insects. However, researchers are only just getting to grips with this fascinating new area of research.

Above ground, cannabis releases terpenes from glandular trichomes that are concentrated on the flowers. However, under the soil, they emit terpenes through their roots to communicate to other organisms and manipulate the status of the ecosystem within the rhizosphere (the slither of space around the root system).

For example, researchers have found that some plants release β-pinene and E-Caryophyllene through their roots to attract predatory nematodes to wipe out those that feast on roots. Some species also put out the molecule arabidin to control bacterial numbers in the rhizosphere; they’re able to selectively promote or inhibit different microbial species in their favour.

The science remains early here, but the huge economic engine that fuels horticultural research in the cannabis space will inevitably unlock these secrets. It won’t take long before we understand how cannabis leverages below-ground terpene release to influence relationships with symbiotic mycorrhizal fungi, bacteria, and disease-causing organisms.

How Humans Have Altered Cannabinoid and Terpene Levels

Wild cannabis plants, sometimes referred to as landraces, depend on their ability to produce terpenes and cannabinoids to deal with stress and survive. However, these specimens possess much lower levels than those bred in high-tech greenhouses. Through intensive selective breeding, humans have managed to produce cultivars that are genetically wired to pump out far higher levels of secondary metabolites to suit our desires for taste, smell, and psychoactive effects.

Cannabinoids and Terpenes Fulfil Vital Roles

There you have it. Cannabinoids and terpenes play key roles in nature. They help plants to deter insects and mammals, protect them against UV radiation, and even allow them to warn each other of approaching danger. Now, every time you take a hit of a joint or dig your teeth into an edible, you’ll be reminded of the incredible natural technology that allows you to partake in that experience.

External Resources:
  1. Herbivory-Induced Emission of Volatile Terpenes https://pubs.acs.org
  2. Contrasting Roles of Cannabidiol as an Insecticide and Rescuing Agent for Ethanol–induced Death in the Tobacco Hornworm Manduca sexta https://www.nature.com
  3. A review of Cannabis sativa-based insecticides, Miticides, and repellents https://www.researchgate.net
  4. Leaf vibrations produced by chewing provide a consistent acoustic target for plant recognition of herbivores https://link.springer.com
  5. UV-B Radiations and Secondary Metabolites https://www.researchgate.net
  6. Volatile terpenes – mediators of plant-to-plant communication https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com
  7. Plant terpenes that mediate below-ground interactions: prospects for bioengineering terpenoids for plant protection https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com
Disclaimer:
This content is for educational purposes only. The information provided is derived from research gathered from external sources.

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Privacy Policy - Royal Queen Seeds

To ensure a safe online environment and guarantee adequate data protection, we strictly comply with all legal requirements. In this privacy statement, we provide information about how and for what purpose data is collected, safety measures, storage periods and contact details.


COMPANY NAME: SNORKEL SPAIN, SL (hereinafter ROYAL QUEEN SEEDS)

C/ Vilar d'Abdelà, 5 (nave 1) CP: 08170 de Montornès del Vallès

+34 937 379 846

support@royalqueenseeds.com


The present Privacy Policy sets out the terms on which we will treat personal data at ROYAL QUEEN SEEDS; this includes any personal data collected through our website https://www.royalqueenseeds.com/ as well as any other data we process in the course of our business activities.

ROYAL QUEEN SEEDS collects the following personal data for the purposes listed below:

SECTION 1 – PERSONAL INFORMATION WE COLLECT

1.1 Account purchases

Account purchases can only be made if you are in possession of a personal account. When you create an account or purchase something from our shop, as part of the buying and selling process we collect the following personal information that you provide to us:

This information is required for delivery. In addition, when you browse our shop, we automatically receive the Internet Protocol (IP) address of your computer. Based on this information, we can optimise your online experience and at the same time protect our online environment.

Purpose of data collection

We collect and store account-related data for the following purposes:

(a) to carry out obligations arising from any contracts between you and us, and to provide you with information, products and services that you may request from us;

(b) to set up, manage and communicate with you about your account and your orders;

(c) to conduct market research and analysis;

(d) to confirm your age and identity, and to detect and prevent fraud.

1.2 Newsletters

With your explicit permission, we may send you newsletters about our shop, new products and other updates. We send newsletters based on your explicit consent. In the event that you purchase a product, and in accordance with current regulations, we may send you commercial communications in accordance with the legitimate interest of our company, always about products or services similar to those you have purchased or contracted. In any case, you may exercise your right of opposition through the channels announced in this Privacy Policy. The following information is collected in relation to the newsletter:

We do not need to know the sex of the person in order to send the newsletter (data minimisation: by law we must ask for data that is strictly necessary to provide the service, and in this case knowing the sex is not necessary to send the newsletter).

Purpose of data collection

The data collected is used to:

(a) personalise our emails, including your name and gender;

(b) provide gender-specific content.

You can withdraw your consent at any time by using the link provided in the newsletter or the contact information provided in section 2.

1.3 Customer service and contact form

In order to provide appropriate support, our customer service employees have access to information related to the account. Consequently, their support will be highly effective and friendly. The data provided in our contact form is used by our CRM provider, SuperOffice. We will only use your details to respond to your message.

SECTION 2 – LEGITIMATE INTEREST

If you have purchased any of our products, please note that we may process your personal data for promotional purposes, based on Royal Queen Seeds' legitimate interest only to offer you products or services from our company and about products or services similar to those you have purchased. You may exercise your right to opt out of future messages by the means set out in this Privacy Policy or through any notification you receive.

2.1 How do you withdraw consent?

If you change your mind, you can withdraw your consent for us to contact you for the purpose of collecting, using, or disclosing your data at any time by reaching out to us at: support@royalqueenseeds.com.

SECTION 3 – DISCLOSURE

We may disclose your personal information if we are required to do so by law or if you breach our Terms of Service.

SECTION 4 – HOW LONG DO WE KEEP YOUR DATA?

At Royal Queen Seeds, we will not retain your data for longer than is necessary for the purposes described in this Policy. Different retention periods apply for different types of data; however, the longest period we will normally hold any personal data is 10 years.

4.1 Account information

Data relating to the account remains relevant for as long as the consumer is in possession of an account. Therefore, the data remains documented for as long as the account exists. When our customers delete an account, the associated data will be deleted within a reasonable period of time. Requests regarding the inspection or correction of stored personal data or the deletion of an account can be sent to support@royalqueenseeds.com.

4.2 Newsletters

In the event that you give us your consent to inform you about our products or services, we will keep your data until you express your wish not to receive any further communications from us. However, we regularly (every month) carry out a relevance check. Registered customers (and their personal information) will be deleted whenever customers do not reply to our request. In addition, our newsletter mailing has an opt-out feature. Consumers can withdraw their consent by using this opt-out feature.

SECTION 5 – COOKIES

Cookies are small information files that notify your computer of previous interactions with our website. These cookies are stored on your hard drive, not on our website. Essentially, when you use our website, your computer displays its cookies to us, informing our site that you have visited before. This allows our website to function more quickly and remember aspects related to your previous visits (such as your username), making your experience more convenient. At Royal Queen Seeds, we use two types of cookies: functional and analytical.

5.1 Functional Cookies

Functional cookies are used to enhance your online experience. Among other things, these cookies track what is added to your shopping cart. The use of these cookies does not require prior authorization.

5.2 Analytical Cookies

Analytical cookies are used for research and market analysis. The data collected with these analytical cookies is anonymous, making it unusable for third parties. The use of these cookies does not require prior authorization.

SECTION 5 – THIRD-PARTY SERVICES

Third-party services are required to conduct transactions and provide our services. In general, the third-party providers we use will only collect, use and disclose your information to the extent necessary to enable them to perform the services they provide to us.

However, certain third-party service providers, such as payment gateways and other payment transaction processors, have their own privacy policies regarding the information we must provide to them for your transactions.

We encourage you to read the privacy policies of these providers so that you can understand how these providers will handle your personal information.

In particular, certain suppliers may be located or have facilities located in a different jurisdiction than yours or ours. Therefore, if you choose to proceed with a transaction involving the services of a third party, your information may be subject to the laws of the jurisdiction in which that service provider or its facilities are located.

Once you leave our website or are redirected to a third-party website or application, you are no longer governed by this Privacy Policy or the Terms of Service of our website.

Web analytics service (anonymous data)

On this website we have integrated an element of a web analytics service (with anonymisation functionality). Web analytics can be defined as the gathering, processing and analysis of data about the behaviour of visitors to websites. An analytics service collects, among other things, data about which website a person came from (the so-called referrer), which sub-pages they visited or how often and for how long they visited a sub-page. Web analytics is mainly used for website optimisation and for a cost–benefit analysis of internet advertising.

Courier service

To complete deliveries we use a courier service. This courier service carries out the delivery between our company and the consumer's home. To complete these logistics, the company requires access to the consumer's name and address information.

Mailing service

Royal Queen Seeds uses a third-party mail service provider to send its newsletter. This provider has access to limited account information related to opt-in consent (e.g. email address).

Marketing services

Royal Queen Seeds has the support of a company that specialises in marketing and communication activities. Their access to personal information is very limited and mostly anonymous.

Payment services

At Royal Queen Seeds we use external payment services to handle our transactions (e.g. credit card payments).

SECTION 6 – SECURITY

To protect your personal information, we take reasonable precautions and follow industry standard best practices to ensure that it is not inappropriately lost, misused, accessed, disclosed, altered or destroyed.

If you provide us with your credit card information, the information is encrypted using secure socket layer technology (SSL) and stored using AES-256 encryption. Although no method of transmission over the internet or electronic storage is 100% secure, we follow all PCI-DSS requirements and implement additional industry standards that are commonly accepted. Information related to the account is protected with a hashing method. This method transforms the information into a generated hash. As a result, confidential information is protected and invisible, even to us. In addition, our databases are exceptionally protected against unauthorised access. For example, access to the database is only possible and permitted via approved IP addresses (e.g. from Royal Queen Seeds headquarters). Other attempts and addresses are rejected at all times.

Furthermore, data is anonymised as much as possible, so it cannot be directly linked to a specific consumer. With this data, however, we may be able to carry out market research and analysis. In addition, the third parties concerned (e.g. mailing service) are examined prior to our collaboration, comply with the GDPR from the EU and receive a processing agreement. Within Royal Queen Seeds, employees are assigned different access permissions. Specific permission provides access only to information that is strictly required to perform a task. Digital security measures are subject to change and must meet high requirements to ensure the safety of online customers. That is why, at Royal Queen Seeds, we appoint a security officer. Regular verification and improvement of security measures (where necessary) are part of the role.

SECTION 7 – CHANGES TO THIS PRIVACY POLICY

We reserve the right to modify this Privacy Policy at any time, so please check back regularly. Changes and clarifications will be effective immediately upon being published on the Website. If we make substantial changes to this policy, we will notify you here that it has been updated so you will know what information we collect, how we use it and under what circumstances, if any, we use and/or disclose it.

SECTION 8 – YOU HAVE THE RIGHT TO: