Employing Aeroponic Systems for the Clonal Propagation of Cannabis

This protocol can aid in making an informed decision as to how to proceed with the regeneration of desired cannabis genetics in research or commercial production settings. The main advantage of this technique is inducing early root formation in cannabis cuttings while limiting their susceptibility to potential pathogens. The implications of this technique extend toward the improvement of challenges observed in cannabis propagation by inducing early root formation in cuttings, which can be applied in research or production settings.

With a sterilized scalpel or scissor, cut the shoots with several nodes of approximately 10 centimeters in length near the apical meristem at an angle 45 degrees. Remove all foliage except that present on the top three nodes. Dip the newly excised cutting at approximately two to five centimeters up from the base of the stem into the rooting solution containing indole-3-butyric acid for approximately five seconds.

Insert the cutting into the center of a rockwool cube til the depth of approximately two centimeters above the cube's base, positioned in the aeroponic system. Spray the unrooted cuttings with a nutrient mist solution every three days. Grow cuttings for about 18 to 24 hours in light per day with a photosynthetic photon flux density of 100 micromoles per second per square meter.

Every two to five days, replenish the system with water at a pH between five to six. Lightly mist the cuttings with nutrient mist solution every three days and pour five milliliters of nutrient solution into the reservoir every three to five days. Add 15 milliliters of the algae and bacteria cleaning solution, containing 0.028%hypochlorous acid every five days.

Select the cuttings with long, white fibrous roots. Carefully dislodge the rockwool cube from the system and untangle the roots. Transplant the cannabis propagules to a four liter nursery pot filled with a nutritious soil mix.

The figure shows clones that developed roots in three to seven days and fully developed roots 37 centimeters in length after 10 to 14 days on the system, planted into a soil-filled pot. The average length of shoots and roots were approximately 24.8 centimeters and 37.8 centimeters for Cherry Wine and approximately 21.4 centimeters and 39.7 centimeters approximately for Red Robin, respectively. The differences between the two varieties were analyzed by two-way ANOVA followed by Tukey's multiple compassions test, showing no significant differences in shoot and root lengths between the two varieties.

Selecting healthy cuttings exhibiting vigorous new growth is ideal for propagation. Maintaining the water level, temperature, pH, and nutritional aspects of the system reservoir are key for fast and effective outcomes.