Terpene Flavonoid Interaction

Terpene-flavonoid interaction describes the combined sensory and chemical influence of volatile terpenes and non-volatile flavonoid compounds in cannabis plant material. While terpenes (limonene, myrcene, pinene, etc.) produce the primary aromatic profile, flavonoids—polyphenolic compounds like cannflavin A and quercetin—contribute subtle taste, color, and potentially modulate the overall sensory experience. Breeders and researchers increasingly recognize that aroma complexity results not from terpenes alone, but from how these secondary metabolites interact during growth, curing, and storage. This interaction remains incompletely mapped, making it a focus area for cannabis genetics documentation and breeding programs studying strain-specific aromatic stability.

Breeders working in advanced phenotype selection now consider flavonoid profiles alongside terpene ratios when establishing consistent aroma signatures across seed lines. Understanding terpene-flavonoid stability helps predict how cultivars will age and how environmental factors (light, temperature, nutrients) will affect final aromatic expression.