Abscisic Acid Signaling

Abscisic acid (ABA) signaling is a plant hormone system that regulates stress responses, stomatal closure, and water retention in cannabis and other plants. Rather than a terpene itself, ABA functions as an endogenous signaling molecule that influences secondary metabolite production, including terpene and cannabinoid synthesis, particularly under drought or environmental stress. Research in plant physiology indicates that ABA accumulation can trigger shifts in terpene profiles as part of the plant's adaptive response. Breeders and cultivators studying stress-induced chemistry often examine ABA signaling pathways to understand how phenotypic expression varies across growing conditions. Understanding ABA's role helps contextualize why terpene and cannabinoid ratios may differ between identical genetics grown under different environmental pressures.

Breeders working with stress-resilient lines monitor ABA signaling to predict how cultivars will respond to drought, heat, or nutrient limitation. Selecting for robust ABA regulation can help stabilize secondary metabolite profiles across variable growing conditions.