Cannabis Crop Steering Techniques with Jose Leme, PhD @medicinal.genomics

Uploaded July 2025 | Updated September 2026, 2 weeks ago

Dr. Jose Leme is a Professor at Southern Illinois University and the principal investigator in the Cannabis Biology and Cultivation Systems lab. He and his team focus on determining how to leverage environmental controls (light intensity, duration, quality, temperature, and CO2), plant nutrition, biostimulants, and hormones to improve plant production. Moreover, the research group is developing techniques to optimize plant yields and quality based on key crop steering traits that increase sustainability and efficiency via plant physiological, biochemical, and agricultural approaches.

During our conversation, we discussed several recent studies that Jose and his team have published, including:

* Using mechanical stimulation and high stress training to increase production of secondary metabolites
* Applying plant hormones to increase trichome density
* Assessing how drought stress affects plant yield and potency
* Standardizing cloning methods for plant propagation
* Developing standards for measuring trichome density

Thanks to This Episode's Sponsor: Advanced Nutrients

Founded in 1999, Advanced Nutrients was the first to develop a complete nutrient system that unlocks the true genetic potential of the cannabis plant. Since its inception, the brand has introduced more than 50 innovations to the cultivation community and continues to revolutionize the space through proprietary scientific discoveries.

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Additional Resources
* DrLeme.com
* Methyl Jasmonate and Ammonium Bicarbonate: Distinct and Synergistic Impacts on Indoor Cannabis Production Dynamics - mdpi.com/2037-0164/16/3/78
* The Role of Jasmonates in Modulating Growth, Trichome Density, and Cannabinoid Accumulation in Cannabis sativa L. - mdpi.com/2037-0164/16/2/68
* The Effects of Water-Deficit Stress on Cannabis sativa L. Development and Production of Secondary Metabolites: A Review - mdpi.com/2311-7524/11/6/646
* From Bracts to Buds: Developing Reliable Methods for Trichome Density Assessment in Cannabis sativa L.
- preprints.org/manuscript/202504.2573/v1
* Accumulation of Trigonelline in the Leaves of Cannabis sativa L. in Response to Water-Deficit Stress
- preprints.org/manuscript/202504.0637/v1
* Implementation of a Standardized Cloning and Propagation Protocol for Optimizing Cannabis sativa L. Cultivation -
ccsenet.org/journal/index.php/jas/article/view/0/51558

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