more good news about cannabis ......
Cannabis breakthrough as researchers discover the genes that will let them control flavours 'like fine wines'
- Researchers identified 30 genes that give various cannabis strains their flavors
- They identified compounds such as limonene, which produces a lemon flavor
- The cannabis genes are similar to genes that play a role in grape flavor for wine
- The findings will have an impact on the budding legal cannabis industry
By
Cecile Borkhataria For Dailymail.com
Published: 13:29 EDT, 30 March 2017 | Updated: 13:29 EDT, 30 March 2017
Researchers have identified the genes responsible for giving different strains of cannabis distinct flavours.
They scanned the genomes of cannabis plants and identified compounds such as limonene which produces a lemon-like flavor.
The findings will have an impact on the budding legal cannabis industry.
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"The researchers identified 30 genes that give various cannabis strains their lemony, skunky or earthy flavors. 'This is similar to the wine industry, which depends on defined varieties such as chardonnay or merlot for high value products,' said Dr Jörg Bohlmann, a professor in the Michael Smith Laboratories and faculty of forestry at the University of British Columbia " class="blkBorder img-share"/>
The researchers identified 30 genes that give various cannabis strains their lemony, skunky or earthy flavors. 'This is similar to the wine industry, which depends on defined varieties such as chardonnay or merlot for high value products,' said Dr Jörg Bohlmann, a professor in the Michael Smith Laboratories and faculty of forestry at the University of British Columbia
The researchers, based at the University of British Columbia (UBC), identified 30 genes that give various cannabis strains their lemony, skunky or earthy flavors.
'The goal is to develop well-defined and highly-reproducible cannabis varieties, said Dr Jörg Bohlmann, a professor in the Michael Smith Laboratories and faculty of forestry at UBC.
'This is similar to the wine industry, which depends on defined varieties such as chardonnay or merlot for high value products.
'Our genomics work can inform breeders of commercial varieties which genes to pay attention to for specific flavor qualities.'
The research, published in the journal
Plos One, is part of an ongoing collaboration with graduate student Judith Booth and Dr Jonathan Page, an adjunct professor in UBC's botany department who founded the cannabis testing and biotechnology company Anandia labs.
The researchers analyzed terpene genes, which contribute to diverse flavors in cannabis.
WHAT ARE TERPENES?
Terpenes are compounds that are responsible for the differnt aromas of cannabis.
The production of terpenes in cannabis plants is increased with light exposure, and they're mostly found in high concentrations in unfertilized female cannabis flowers.
For example, the compound limonene produces a lemon-like flavor, and myrcene produces dank, earthy, herbal flavors.
Cannabis' signature terpene, Beta-caryophyllene, is also found in pepper, cloves, hops, basil and oregano.
legislation to legalize marijuana by July 2018.
'There is a need for high-quality and consistent products made from well defined varieties,' he said.
The researcher said it will be important to examine to what extent terpene's interact with cannabinoid compound such as tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) that give cannabis its medicinal properties.
Read more:
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sciencetech/article-4365346/Cannabis-genes-responsible-different-aromas-identified.html#ixzz4cqYXjO8O
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