Interesting. I had always assumed it could be from too low humidity. He did say he was in the 60-70% range, but less later. If you are going off of that, then I can understand as those do seem like high numbers. I was curious about your thoughts.
I also have UV, but haven't used it more than a day or two since I got it two years ago. I didn't know that UV did that tacoleaf. I never use mine because the UV damage the light does to my equipment is more than any benefit I feel I would receive from it. Can you tell a difference in your UV weed?
Well I honestly don't really know what brings on tacoleaf, I only quickly googled and high RH was one of the reasons stated, but I don't know if it's 100% true or not, just what I read. I'd think it'd be when RH is too low as well, but I don't know and the only thing RH related that I did read was pointing to too high RH.
It looks like a defense mechanism, like its shielding itself from too much light or wind or trying to stop water loss even? I too am curious and was trying to add to my data set by inquiring about whether UV was present. I personally wasn't sure if Ive gotten tacoleaf from my UVB sources (I was always leaning toward heat stress), but it was something I took note of in other peoples grows, I believe randomblame had some of those symptoms somewhat consistently while he was testing out his agromax. I only ever used reptile CFLs, and they don't have much UVB compared to the Agromax or even the arcadias, so I was curious if that had something to do with it (me not getting tacoleaf while others seemed to be). Nachoo was using 285nm LED and his plants didn't seem to create the tacoleaf if I remember, more of a semi blotchy light green is what i kind of noticed (like beginning mg def kinda). So I was just inquiring to add to my data set, see if it progressed any possible theories ha.
As far as real life translation, I think my UV buds are more potent. I never did a true side by side, or had anything tested, but some have posted about such expirements where they subjected their friends to a blind test and the results always favor the UV grown stuff, at least thats what I've been told. My tent with reptile bulbs seems "fuel-ier" than the non UV tents, but without testing ill admit that my experience could possibly just be placebo. I don't grow the same strains in every tent so its hard to compare apples to apples, but it seems to help.
There was a study done in the late 1980s and I think it's pretty relevant. Points to an increase in THC when greater quantities of low WV emissions are used. The plant has a photoreceptor called UVR8 which absorbs around 285nm. I think if the plant has evolved a special photoreceptor to absorb this WV that its somewhat significant. HY5 expression peaks closer to 305nm I think (its been awhile ill have to look again) and this influences THC production if I'm not mistaken. Both of these molecules are stimulated by low WVs. The sun also has these WVs. I'm not sure that UVB is the only way to trigger a beneficial biochemical pathway (or whatever its called) but I think that its logical, given the info, that UVB or low WV UV will impact morphology (how the plant grows) in a beneficial way (increase cannibinoids).
I haven't noticed much damage to my stuff personally. The bulb bases get yellow, but I haven't noticed much in my tents prematurely wearing or anything. Plants cover the buckets and plumbing and the reflectors keep the UVB off of my QBs and pointing down onto plants. So far so good, but also I'm only using UVB150 and UVB200 CFLs, perhaps a more concentrated source will cause more problems, that seems quite possible to me but I haven't come across it yet with the sources I'm using.
I intend to use 285nm LED though, so ill be watching out and if notice anything ill come back on here and blab all about it lolol
Good to see ya Big Perm, I haven't been on RIU lately and I used to really like checking out ur stuff, hope all is well.
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