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Objectives: This study aims at determining technological maturity (ten, seven, two days prior and at harvest day) through analyzing morphological changes of trichomes and phytocannabinoid content in samples from cultivated medical cannabis at three plot spots (southeast - SE, central - CN and northwest - NW) in greenhouse (with 3600 m²). Materials and Methods: Soil-grown medical cannabis T-492 plant flowers were sampled within a ten days’ timeline from three plot spots of 3600 m² greenhouse. Morphology analysis was performed using Zeiss Stemi 508 stereomicroscope and phytocannabinoids content assessment was performed using German pharmacopoeial method for assay of cannabinoids. Results: HPLC analysis revealed that total THC (%) in the samples was declining from SE (13.14%), all the way through CN (12.38%) to NW (9.14%) spot. Regarding timeline, total THC (%) was the highest in the southeast location, starting with the highest levels on the tenth day before harvest (SE-10- 13.14%) and then decreasing on the seventh day prior to harvest (SE-7 -11.78%), on the second day prior harvest (SE-2-11.56%) and at the harvest day (SEh- 10.00%). The presence of translucent-milky, yellow-orange and dark brown trichome heads was observed. An increment of the number of yellow-orange and dark brown colored capitate-stalked trichome heads was connected with cannabinoid content declining. Conclusion: This research gives directions for future conceptualization of correlational studies of cannabinoid content and changes in trichomes and purple coloration (probably from anthocyanins) in different Cannabis cultivars. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Cannabis is considered as heterogeneous matrix that contains complex profile of secondary metabolites, where more than 100 are classified as phytocannabinoids, present with an uneven distribution. In order to ensure its quality, application of suitable sample preparation techniques as well as time- and cost-efficient analytical methods is required. The DAB method depicts the obligatory procedure for potency testing of cannabinoids in cannabis flower in the EU. In this study we have performed method transfer in order to confirm the applicability of the method in determination of varying quantities of cannabioniods in different cannabis strains, focusing on samples with low content of CBD or THC or samples where one of these two cannabiniods is not detected. The HPLC-DAD method was validated and used for routine control of the content and consistency of medical cannabis. Limits of detection, limits of quantitation, accuracy, precision, and intermediate precision were found to be highly satisfactory. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]