Diurnal Cycling
Diurnal cycling in cannabis refers to circadian-rhythm-driven fluctuations in terpene and cannabinoid expression throughout a 24-hour period. Research indicates that volatile organic compounds (VOCs)—including myrcene, limonene, and pinene—often peak at specific times of day, influenced by light exposure, temperature, and the plant's internal biological clock. This temporal variation in chemical composition has become relevant to breeders and cultivation researchers studying harvest timing and metabolite optimization. Understanding diurnal cycling helps explain why identical plants sampled at different times may show measurable differences in terpene profiles. This phenomenon is still an active area of horticultural investigation, with limited large-scale data on cannabis-specific patterns compared to other plant species.
Diurnal Cycling strains
No strains tagged into Diurnal Cycling yet — they'll appear here as breeders submit lineage records under this terpene.
Diurnal cycling in cannabis refers to circadian-rhythm-driven fluctuations in terpene and cannabinoid expression throughout a 24-hour period. Research indicates that volatile organic compounds (VOCs)—including myrcene, limonene, and pinene—often peak at specific times of day, influenced by light exposure, temperature, and the plant's internal biological clock. This temporal variation in chemical composition has become relevant to breeders and cultivation researchers studying harvest timing and metabolite optimization. Understanding diurnal cycling helps explain why identical plants sampled at different times may show measurable differences in terpene profiles. This phenomenon is still an active area of horticultural investigation, with limited large-scale data on cannabis-specific patterns compared to other plant species.
Breeders interested in stable or consistent terpene expression may select for genotypes showing reduced diurnal volatility. Cultivation researchers use diurnal cycling data to inform optimal harvest windows and post-harvest handling protocols.
Educational reference · Cultivar metadata only · No medical claims