Response of Medical Cannabis to Magnesium (Mg) Supply at the Vegetative Growth Phase

Abstract

Recent studies demonstrated a significant impact of some major macronutrients on function and production of medical cannabis plants, yet information on the effect of most nutrients, including Mg, is scarce. Magnesium is required for major physiological functions and metabolic processes in plants, and in the present study we studied the effects of five Mg treatments (2, 20, 35, 70, and 140 mg L−1 Mg), on plant development and function, and distribution of minerals in drug-type (medical) cannabis plants, at the vegetative growth phase. The plants were cultivated in pots under controlled environment conditions. The results demonstrate that plant development is optimal under Mg supply of 35–70 mg L−1 (ppm), and impaired under lower Mg input of 2–20 mg L−1. Two mg L−1 Mg resulted in visual deficiency symptoms, shorter plants, reduced photosynthesis rate, transpiration rate, photosynthetic pigments and stomatal conduction in young-mature leaves, and a 28% reduction of total plant biomass compared to the optimal supply of 35 mg L−1 Mg. The highest supply level of 140 mg L−1 Mg induced a small decrease in physiological function, which did not affect morphological development and biomass accumulation. The low-deficient Mg supply of 2 mg L−1 Mg stimulated Mg uptake and accumulation of N, P, K, Ca, Mn, and Zn in the plant. Increased Mg supply impaired uptake of Ca and K and their root-to-shoot translocation, demonstrating competitive cation inhibition. Mg-deficiency symptoms developed first in old leaves (at 2 mg L−1 Mg) and progressed towards young-mature leaves, demonstrating ability for Mg in-planta storage and remobilization. Mg toxicity symptoms appeared in old leaves from the bottom of the plants, under 140 mg L−1 Mg. Taken together, the findings suggest 35–70 mg L−1 Mg as the optimal concentration range for cannabis plant development and function at the vegetative growth phase.