The effects of chitin and chitosan on Cannabis sativa defense systems

Abstract

Cannabis sativa is an emerging agricultural crop worldwide, with rapid expansion in both planting area and processing capacity in the past decade. The global market size of C. sativa production is projected to increase approximately 8–10% annually till 2030. More recently, to increase quality and consistency of C. sativa products, the plant cultivation has been moved indoors using hydroponic system. However, C. sativa is susceptible to several fungal diseases in both outdoor and indoor conditions, causing reduction in plant yield and product quality. Chitin and chitosan are natural elicitors, applied to promote plant growth and induce plant defense. Several studies have shown their capabil..