6 ms·

The next step is optimizing the plants to grow better in these greenhouse conditions - currently the plants waste lots of energy. For example my company, TAXA B

The next step is optimizing the plants to grow better in these greenhouse conditions - currently the plants waste lots of energy. For example my company, TAXA Biotechnologies[1], has identified a gene that doubles the rate of growth of lettuce per unit light energy. It wouldn't work in the wild as the cost is reduced pest-resistance but growing indoors there are other ways to control that. [1]www.taxa.com

rezistik 10y ago
There is a lot that can be done to optimize plants genetically, including a ton that can be done with selective breeding. I'm working on a start up doing selective breeding software and it's amazing how much variety is available that isn't being tapped into yet. We're starting with cannabis breeding before moving into other crops but there is a ton of room for improvement in genetic stock.
- andai 10y ago
  Hey, I'd be very interested to hear more about this! Do you have a newsletter or something like that? I had the idea that there is so much untapped potential in selective breeding of cannabis after reading about various terpenes and their medicinal properties. The market's just been breeding for ridiculous THC levels (I daresay harmful levels - unfortunately I know several heavy smokers who have been institutionalized) without the CBD to balance it and without exploring the role of the other chemicals. So I'm happy to hear that this is changing! (Like that news of a 15% CBD 1% THC strain from a few years back) I wish you the best of luck!
  - andai 10y ago
    To clarify on the last bit, I was thinking it would be great if the genetics from the new high CBD strains could be brought into the mainstream by crossbreeding with popular strains. My interest in this has to do with the idea that in the 1970s, CBD and THC levels were both around 1%. THC has skyrocketed but CBD has not. THC is known to trigger psychosis and paranoia in sensitive individuals, while CBD reduces anxiety and was found to be as effective as other anti-psychotics. TL;DR too much sativa not enough indica :)
  - rezistik 10y ago
    Hey, we don't yet could you email me patrick@growflora.co ? I'd love to talk about it more. We're onboarding some of our first breeders this upcoming week and have a grow journal beta out in the open.
  - deleted 10y ago
    [deleted]
- choosername 10y ago
  nice to hear but more relevant to the thread would be info on precise photo active radiation spectra. The absorption is easily meassured putting a leaf under a through light spectroscope, but narrowing down the actually active spectrum is a different matter.
lisivka 10y ago
Optimize for taste, not for fast growth, please. I don't want to pay for lettuce with taste of straw.
- thatswrong0 10y ago
  Last time I checked (it's been a while since I had a salad), lettuce already doesn't have too much of a taste. I'd be surprised if they managed to mess that up.
  - eonw 10y ago
    is that the outcome of nature or selective breeding?
  - maxerickson 10y ago
    It really depends on the lettuce. Iceburg seems to be intentionally useless. Romaine starts to have a little flavor. Leaf lettuces have a wide range of flavors.
    - slyn 10y ago
      Iceberg is a texture, not a taste per se. Used in combination with other greens and veggies it has a place.
  - dekhn 10y ago
    Moving to California recalibrated my understanding of lettuce/salad greens. Not sure if you meant just lettuce, but in California a typical salad has little to no lettuce, and instead: mizuna, arugula, radicchio. What lettuce is does have is Romaine and butter lettuce, not iceberg. The result is a very flavorful salad- intensely bitter with much less crunch.
- dbyte 10y ago
  Yes, this is a must. I wonder if industrial greenhouses could benefit from some sort of induced day-night cycles and thermal gradients to cuddle the little plants. Maybe it will allow them to grow better and to develop a better taste. Once you have LEDs possibilities are many.

rezistik 10y ago

There is a lot that can be done to optimize plants genetically, including a ton that can be done with selective breeding. I'm working on a start up doing selective breeding software and it's amazing how much variety is available that isn't being tapped into yet. We're starting with cannabis breeding before moving into other crops but there is a ton of room for improvement in genetic stock.

andai 10y ago
Hey, I'd be very interested to hear more about this! Do you have a newsletter or something like that? I had the idea that there is so much untapped potential in selective breeding of cannabis after reading about various terpenes and their medicinal properties. The market's just been breeding for ridiculous THC levels (I daresay harmful levels - unfortunately I know several heavy smokers who have been institutionalized) without the CBD to balance it and without exploring the role of the other chemicals. So I'm happy to hear that this is changing! (Like that news of a 15% CBD 1% THC strain from a few years back) I wish you the best of luck!
- andai 10y ago
  To clarify on the last bit, I was thinking it would be great if the genetics from the new high CBD strains could be brought into the mainstream by crossbreeding with popular strains. My interest in this has to do with the idea that in the 1970s, CBD and THC levels were both around 1%. THC has skyrocketed but CBD has not. THC is known to trigger psychosis and paranoia in sensitive individuals, while CBD reduces anxiety and was found to be as effective as other anti-psychotics. TL;DR too much sativa not enough indica :)
- rezistik 10y ago
  Hey, we don't yet could you email me patrick@growflora.co ? I'd love to talk about it more. We're onboarding some of our first breeders this upcoming week and have a grow journal beta out in the open.
- deleted 10y ago
  [deleted]
choosername 10y ago
nice to hear but more relevant to the thread would be info on precise photo active radiation spectra. The absorption is easily meassured putting a leaf under a through light spectroscope, but narrowing down the actually active spectrum is a different matter.

lisivka 10y ago

Optimize for taste, not for fast growth, please. I don't want to pay for lettuce with taste of straw.

thatswrong0 10y ago
Last time I checked (it's been a while since I had a salad), lettuce already doesn't have too much of a taste. I'd be surprised if they managed to mess that up.
- eonw 10y ago
  is that the outcome of nature or selective breeding?
- maxerickson 10y ago
  It really depends on the lettuce. Iceburg seems to be intentionally useless. Romaine starts to have a little flavor. Leaf lettuces have a wide range of flavors.
  - slyn 10y ago
    Iceberg is a texture, not a taste per se. Used in combination with other greens and veggies it has a place.
- dekhn 10y ago
  Moving to California recalibrated my understanding of lettuce/salad greens. Not sure if you meant just lettuce, but in California a typical salad has little to no lettuce, and instead: mizuna, arugula, radicchio. What lettuce is does have is Romaine and butter lettuce, not iceberg. The result is a very flavorful salad- intensely bitter with much less crunch.
dbyte 10y ago
Yes, this is a must. I wonder if industrial greenhouses could benefit from some sort of induced day-night cycles and thermal gradients to cuddle the little plants. Maybe it will allow them to grow better and to develop a better taste. Once you have LEDs possibilities are many.