Effects of Ethephon on Terpenoids in Cannabis sativa L. in Vegetative Stage

In the present study we investigated the effect of ethephon on changes in the amount of many terpenoid compounds including, tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), cannabidiol (CBD), chlorophyll, carotenoids, alpha-tocopherol and pyruvate as one of substrate in plastidic terpenoids biosynthesis in Cannabis sativa at vegetative stage. Treatment with 1 and 100 mu M ethephon increased THC content up to 9 fold in vegetative stage. Plants treated with 10 mu M ethephon had more CBD content in comparison with control plants. The amount of CBD decreased in plants subjected to 5 and 100 mu M ethephon. Leave area in plant treated with ethephon did not show significant changes in comparison to control plants. Ethephon treatment caused a declined in the amount of alpha-tocopherol. The levels of chlorophylls and carotenoids raised in treated plants with 1 mu M ethephon. With regard to the fact that ethephon had not negative effect on the surface of leaves and chlorophyll content thus its application can be a suitable way for increasing of THC and alpha-tocopherol in Cannabis sativa L.