Triacontanol (sometimes abbreviated as TRIA) is a natural non-hormonal growth promoter. First discovered in alfalfa, it is found in the epicuticular waxes—thin layers of wax on the surfaces of leaves, stems and other aerial plant parts that protect against environmental stressors—of several plant species,[1] as well as beeswax.[2]
Unlike phytohormones,[3] triacontanol does not directly regulate plant growth or development. Instead, it acts as a secondary plant growth enhancer, improving the physiological efficiency of cells and optimizing processes so plants better express their genetic potential. Triacontanol improves how plants use available resources, promoting growth, stress tolerance and productivity.
When growers apply triacontanol to their cannabis crops, they may see healthier plants, increased yields and heightened secondary metabolite production.
Physiological effects of triacontanol
Structurally, triacontanol is a long-chain fatty alcohol (Figure 1) that has several physiological effects on plants, even when applied at relatively low concentrations.[4]
Figure 1. Structural formula of triacontanol. Image source: Naeem, M., M. Masrorr, A. Khan, and Moinuddin. 2012. “Triacontanol: a potent plant growth regulator in agriculture.” Journal of Plant Interactions 7 (2):129-142. https://doi.org/10.1080/17429145.2011.619281.
Photosynthesis
Triacontanol significantly affects the activities of carbonic anhydrase and nitrate reductase enzymes.[5] Carbonic anhydrase facilitates the conversion of carbon dioxide (CO2) into bicarbonate, the form of carbon used in photosynthesis, while nitrate reductase converts nitrogen from nitrates into ammonia, a plant-usable form; it also stimulates protein synthesis.[6] Both enzymes are essential for maximizing nutrient use and growth efficiency.
In addition, triacontanol activates key antioxidant enzymes that protect cells from oxidative damage[7] and increases the activity of several enzymes relating to carbohydrate metabolism.[8]
Enzyme activity
Triacontanol has been shown to substantially influence the content of photosynthetic pigments like chlorophyll, improving photosynthesis efficiency. It also increases stomatal conductance, facilitating CO2 diffusion into the stomata. Studies have found that nanomolar concentrations of triacontanol significantly boost CO2 fixation rates in various plant species. Greater CO2 fixation enhances photosynthesis, which in turn promotes increased plant growth and dry weight.[9]
Benefits of triacontanol supplementation
The physiological effects of triacontanol heighten plant growth and production. (Figure 2).
Figure 2. Triacontanol as a dynamic growth regulator for plants under diverse environmental conditions. Image source: Islam, Shaistul, and Firoz Mohammad. 2020. “Triacontanol as a dynamic growth regulator for plants under diverse environmental conditions.” Physiology and Molecular Biology of Plants 26 (5): 871-883. https://doi.org/10.1007/s12298-020-00815-0.
Several studies have shown that triacontanol applied to the root zone or leaves increases the growth and yield of vegetables and other crops. For example, a foliar application and seed treatment with 0.10 milligrams per liter (mg/L) of triacontanol increased cotton yields by 31%, while winter wheat yields rose by 12% with foliar applications of 0.1 and 0.5 mg/L.[10]
As mentioned above, triacontanol improves CO2 fixation and photosynthesis rates, contributing to increased growth and plant dry weight.[11] Several studies find that triacontanol increases root and shoot growth rate and root length,[12] as well as plant biomass, leaf area and the number of leaves. These beneficial effects result from its ability to modulate hormonal activity and promote cell elongation and division, enhancing overall growth coordination.[13] A stronger root system improves water and nutrient absorption, enabling more robust above-ground growth. Triacontanol also stimulates the synthesis and transport of lipids and carbohydrates, ensuring efficient energy distribution in reproductive and vegetative growth stages.
Triacontanol also acts as a stress modulator, reducing transplant shock and boosting secondary metabolite production. Many plant species show increased essential oil content and yields following triacontanol application.[14]
The following table highlights the growth, yield and quality attributes researchers have observed with triacontanol in numerous plant species.
Plant
Biochemistry
Growth
Yield
Quality
Opium poppy
Chlorophyll a, chlorophyll b and total chlorophyll content
Plant height, dry weight and number of branches
Number of capsules, seed yield per plant and crude opium yield per plant
Morphine content and morphine yield per plant
Tomato
Total chlorophyll and carotenoid content, leaf nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium content
Height per plant, number of leaves, and plant fresh and dry weight
Number of fruits per plant, weight per fruit and fruit yield per plant
Fruit ascorbic acid and lycopene content
Hyacinth bean
Photosynthetic rate, stomatal conductance, transpiration rate, total chlorophyll and carotenoid content, nitrate reductase and carbonic anhydrase activities, leaf nitrogen, phosphorus, potassium, and calcium content, nodule nitrogen and leghemoglobin content
Plant fresh and dry weight, leaf area per plant, number and dry weight of nodules
Number of pods per plant, number of seeds per pod, 100-seed weight and seed yield per plant
Seed protein content, total carbohydrate content and tyrosinase activity
Artemisia
Photosynthetic rate, stomatal conductance, transpiration rate, total chlorophyll and carotenoid content, nitrate reductase and carbonic anhydrase activities, leaf nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium content
Shoot and root length, plant fresh and dry weight
Artemisinin yield
Essential oil content and artemisinin content
Coriander
Total chlorophyll and carotenoid content, nitrate reductase and carbonic anhydrase activities, leaf nitrogen, and phosphorus and potassium content
Shoot and root length, plant fresh and dry weight
Essential oil content
Coffee Senna
Photosynthetic rate, stomatal conductance and transpiration rate, total chlorophyll and carotenoid content, nitrate reductase and carbonic anhydrase activities, leaf nitrogen, phosphorus, potassium and calcium content
Plant fresh and dry weight
Number of pods per plant, number of seeds per pod, 100-seed weight and seed yield per plant
Total anthraquinone and sennoside contents, and seed protein content
Sweet basil
Chlorophyll a, chlorophyll b, total chlorophyll and carotenoid contents, activities of nitrate reductase and carbonic anhydrase, leaf nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium content
Shoot and root length, number of spikes per plant, total leaf area, and plant fresh and dry weight
Essential oil yield
Leaf protein and carbohydrate content, essential oil content, and linalool, methyl eugenol and eugenol content
Japanese mint
Total chlorophyll and carotenoid content, activities of nitrate reductase and carbonic anhydrase, leaf nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium content, and total phenol
Plant height, leaf area, leaf yield, and plant fresh and dry weight
Herbage and essential oil yield
Essential oil content, and menthol, L-menthone, isomenthone and menthyl acetate content
Table 1. Plant response to triacontanol supplementation. Abbreviations: Chlorophyll (Chl), nitrate reductase (NR), carbonic anhydrase (CA), nitrogen (N), phosphorus (P), potassium (K), calcium (Ca), photosynthetic rate (P N), stomatal conductance (gs). Table source: Naeem, M., M. Masrorr, A. Khan, and Moinuddin. 2012. “Triacontanol: a potent plant growth regulator in agriculture.” Journal of Plant Interactions 7 (2):129-142. https://doi.org/10.1080/17429145.2011.619281.
Conclusion
Triacontanol is a natural, powerful plant growth promoter with numerous benefits. Applying it to cannabis may result in healthier, higher-yielding plants with higher cannabinoid levels.
Emerald Harvest Team
[1] Naeem, M., M. Masrorr, A. Khan, and Moinuddin. 2012. “Triacontanol: a potent plant growth regulator in agriculture.” Journal of Plant Interactions 7 (2):129-142. https://doi.org/10.1080/17429145.2011.619281.
[2] Fratini, Filippo, Giovanni Cilia, Barbara Turchi, and Antonio Felicioli. 2016. “Beeswax: A minireview of its antimicrobial activity and its application in medicine.” Asian Pacific Journal of Tropical Medicine 9 (9): 839-843. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.apjtm.2016.07.003.
[3] Plant hormones
[4] Verma, Tunisha, Savita Bhardwaj, Joginder Singh, Dhriti Kapoor, and Ram Prasad. 2022. “Triacontanol as a versatile plant growth regulator in overcoming negative effects of salt stress.” Journal of Agriculture and Food Research 10: 100351. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jafr.2022.100351.
[5] Naeem, M., M. Masrorr, A. Khan, and Moinuddin. 2012. “Triacontanol: a potent plant growth regulator in agriculture.” Journal of Plant Interactions 7 (2):129-142. https://doi.org/10.1080/17429145.2011.619281.
[6] Verma, Tunisha, Savita Bhardwaj, Joginder Singh, Dhriti Kapoor, and Ram Prasad. 2022. “Triacontanol as a versatile plant growth regulator in overcoming negative effects of salt stress.” Journal of Agriculture and Food Research 10: 100351. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jafr.2022.100351.
[7] Weremczuk-Jezyna, Izabela, Katarzyna Hnatukszjo-Konka, Liwia Lebelt, Dorota G. Piotrowska, and Izabela Grzegorczyk-Karolak. 2022. “The Effect of the Stress-Signalling Mediator Triacontanol on Biochemical and Physiological Modifications in Dracocephalum forrestii Culture.” International Journal of Molecular Sciences 23 (23): 15147. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms232315147.
[8] Ries, Stanley, and Robert Houtz. 1983. “Triacontanol as a Plant Growth Regulator.” HortScience 18 (5): 654-662. https://doi.org/10.21273/HORTSCI.18.5.654.
[9] Verma, Tunisha, Savita Bhardwaj, Joginder Singh, Dhriti Kapoor, and Ram Prasad. 2022. “Triacontanol as a versatile plant growth regulator in overcoming negative effects of salt stress.” Journal of Agriculture and Food Research 10: 100351. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jafr.2022.100351.
[10] Naeem, M., M. Masrorr, A. Khan, and Moinuddin. 2012. “Triacontanol: a potent plant growth regulator in agriculture.” Journal of Plant Interactions 7 (2):129-142. https://doi.org/10.1080/17429145.2011.619281.
[11] Ibid.
[12] Islam, Shaistul, and Firoz Mohammad. 2020. “Triacontanol as a dynamic growth regulator for plants under diverse environmental conditions.” Physiology and Molecular Biology of Plants 26 (5): 871-883. https://doi.org/10.1007/s12298-020-00815-0.
[13] Verma, Tunisha, Savita Bhardwaj, Joginder Singh, Dhriti Kapoor, and Ram Prasad. 2022. “Triacontanol as a versatile plant growth regulator in overcoming negative effects of salt stress.” Journal of Agriculture and Food Research 10: 100351. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jafr.2022.100351.
[14] Ibid.
