Methods for increasing secondary metabolite production in cannabis

Abstract

Compositions and methods of using exogenous antioxidant compounds and additives for cannabis and hemp production and growth and methods for enhancing the production of secondary metabolites and alleviating stress in cannabis and hemp plants are described.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A composition for application to a  cannabis  plant, the composition comprising:
 an antioxidant comprising melatonin, 6-hydroxymelatonin, N-acetylserotonin, or a combination of any two or more thereof; and   a fertilizer comprising a growth medium and an additive nutrient.   
     
     
         2 . The composition of  claim 1 , wherein the antioxidant comprises melatonin. 
     
     
         3 . The composition of  claim 1 , wherein the growth medium comprises soil, compost, a aeroponic growth medium, a hydroponic growth medium, or a combination of any two or more thereof. 
     
     
         4 . The composition of  claim 1 , wherein the additive nutrient comprises potassium sulfate, sodium thiosulfate, ammonium thiosulfate, potassium thiosulfate, ammonium sulfate, potassium nitrate, ammonium nitrate, urea, calcium nitrate, sodium nitrate, molasses, or a mixture of any two or more thereof. 
     
     
         5 . The composition of  claim 1 , wherein the additive nutrient comprises potassium sulfate. 
     
     
         6 . The composition of  claim 1 , wherein the composition, when applied to the  cannabis  plant, enhances the content of an essential oil or a mixture thereof, in the  cannabis  plant. 
     
     
         7 . The composition of  claim 1 , wherein the antioxidant comprises melatonin, the growth medium comprises a hydroponic growth medium, and the additive nutrient comprises potassium sulfate. 
     
     
         8 . A method for enhancing the content of an essential oil or a mixture of essential oils in a  cannabis  plant, the method comprising applying to the  cannabis  plant, a composition comprising an antioxidant compound comprising melatonin, 6-hydroxymelatonin, N-acetylserotonin, or a combination of any two or more thereof. 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 8 , wherein the antioxidant compound comprises melatonin. 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 9 , wherein the antioxidant compound consists of melatonin. 
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 8 , wherein the composition further comprises a fertilizer. 
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein the fertilizer comprises a growth medium and additive nutrients. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein the growth medium comprises soil, compost, aeroponic growth media, hydroponic growth media, or a combination of any two or more thereof. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 8 , wherein the composition further comprises an additive nutrient. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 14 , wherein the additive nutrient comprises potassium sulfate, ammonium sulfate, sodium thiosulfate, ammonium thiosulfate, potassium thiosulfate, potassium nitrate, ammonium nitrate, urea, calcium nitrate, sodium nitrate, molasses, or a mixture of any two or more thereof. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 8 , wherein the composition is applied to the  cannabis  plant during cultivation. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 8 , wherein the composition is applied as a foliar spray. 
     
     
         18 . A method for alleviating salt stress, temperature stress, spectral stress, or drought stress in a  cannabis  plant, the method comprising applying to the  cannabis  plant, a composition comprising an antioxidant compound comprising melatonin, 6-hydroxymelatonin, N-acetylserotonin, or a combination of any two or more thereof. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 18 , wherein the antioxidant compound comprises melatonin. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 18 , wherein the composition further comprises a fertilizer comprising a growth medium and an additive nutrient.