Stress Response Volatiles

Stress Response Volatiles (SRVs) refer to secondary metabolites—particularly terpenes and other aromatic compounds—that cannabis plants emit when exposed to environmental stressors such as heat, drought, insect pressure, or pathogen exposure. These compounds are thought to function as plant defense mechanisms, though their exact ecological roles in cannabis remain incompletely documented. Breeders and cultivators observe that plants under stress often exhibit shifts in volatile profiles, sometimes intensifying fruity, spicy, or herbaceous notes. Understanding SRV behavior helps inform breeding decisions and cultivation strategies aimed at resilience and phenotypic stability. SRVs are distinct from baseline terpene profiles and require controlled observation to isolate.

Breeders studying stress tolerance often track volatile emission patterns as phenotypic markers. Lines selected for vigor or environmental resilience frequently show distinct SRV signatures, making terpene profiling a potential tool in multi-stress selection programs.