Stilbene Metabolism

Stilbene metabolism refers to the plant's biochemical pathways that produce and modify stilbenoid compounds, a class of phenolic secondary metabolites. In cannabis, stilbenes are synthesized primarily through the phenylpropanoid pathway and represent a smaller but functionally important segment of the plant's polyphenolic profile. Key stilbenes include resveratrol and its analogues, which accumulate in varying concentrations depending on genetics, cultivation conditions, and tissue type. Breeders and researchers have noted stilbene production correlates with certain terpene-rich, high-UV-exposure phenotypes, though direct genetic markers for stilbene abundance remain incompletely characterized. Understanding stilbene metabolism helps contextualize cannabis phytochemistry alongside the more abundant cannabinoids and terpenes.

Breeders working in phytochemical complexity and stress-response vigor often select for cultivars that express robust phenylpropanoid metabolism, which encompasses stilbene production. Stilbene-producing lines are of emerging interest in comparative cannabinoid and polyphenol research, though no commercial breeding programs currently market on stilbene content alone.