biostudies-literatureStack GMNew York State Department of Agriculture and Markets through Empire State Developmentuhad207https://www.ebi.ac.uk/biostudies/studies/S-EPMC10681003biostudies-literatureUnknown10(11)In the decades since the first cannabinoids were identified by scientists, research has focused almost exclusively on the function and capacity of cannabinoids as medicines and intoxicants for humans and other vertebrates. Very little is known about the adaptive value of cannabinoid production, though several hypotheses have been proposed including protection from ultraviolet radiation, pathogens, and herbivores. To test the prediction that genotypes with greater concentrations of cannabinoids will have reduced herbivory, a segregating F₂ population of <i>Cannabis sativa</i> was leveraged to conduct lab- and field-based bioassays investigating the function of cannabinoids in mediating interactions with chewing herbivores. In the field, foliar cannabinoid concentration was inversHorticulture researchCannabinoids function in defense against chewing herbivores in <i>Cannabis sativa</i> L.PMC10681003AC477Stack GMCrawford JLRose JKCHansen JLSmart LBSnyder SIToth JAWang PPhilippe GMcKay JKMoore VMQuade MAJackowetz JNfalseCannabinoids function in defense against chewing herbivores in <i>Cannabis sativa</i> L.In the decades since the first cannabinoids were identified by scientists, research has focused almost exclusively on the function and capacity of cannabinoids as medicines and intoxicants for humans and other vertebrates. Very little is known about the adaptive value of cannabinoid production, though several hypotheses have been proposed including protection from ultraviolet radiation, pathogens, and herbivores. To test the prediction that genotypes with greater concentrations of cannabinoids will have reduced herbivory, a segregating F₂ population of <i>Cannabis sativa</i> was leveraged to conduct lab- and field-based bioassays investigating the function of cannabinoids in mediating interactions with chewing herbivores. In the field, foliar cannabinoid concentration was invers2023-01-01T00:00:00Z2023 Nov2026-04-08T13:31:15.024Z2025-02-19T00:38:13.524ZS-EPMC106810033802347110.1093/hr/uhad207