Moroccan cannabis strain «Beldiya» found more chemically stable than imported varieties
Researchers focused on one traditional variety, Beldiya, and four exotic hybrids: Avocat, Khardala, Mexicana, and Critical Plus. Using advanced liquid chromatography–mass spectrometry (LC-MS/TSQ), they examined the resin of the plants and identified 13 cannabinoid compounds. Of these, five were categorized as major cannabinoids based on their concentration levels: THCA-A, CBDA, CBD, Δ⁹-THC, and CBN.
Among all the cultivars studied, only Beldiya maintained a consistent chemical profile across the three growing seasons. «This stability is attributed to the uniform and stable seeds selected by local farmers, as well as the cultivar's early blooming stage, which facilitates hybridization with other cultivars», the researchers explained.
Beldiya more stable than imported varieties
In contrast, the imported cultivars showed significant year-to-year variation. For instance, Δ⁹-THC levels were highest in 2014, CBD peaked in 2015, and in 2016, cannabinoid levels dropped across the board, reads the study considered the first of its kind in the region.
The samples were grouped into three distinct chemical clusters based on their compositions and seasonal variability. Beldiya consistently formed a separate cluster, highlighting its unique and stable profile.
The findings represent a major contribution to the scientific understanding of Cannabis grown in Morocco, especially at a time when the country has recently legalized cannabis for medical, therapeutic, and industrial use. The consistent chemical profile of Beldiya makes it a promising candidate for pharmaceutical and cosmetic applications, and the study also offers new genetic markers for identifying chemical polymorphism. These markers could inform future breeding and cultivation programs both in Morocco and globally.
This research was carried out by a group of scientists from Moroccan institutions, including the Laboratory of Biology, Ecology, and Health at Abdelmalek Essaâdi University in Tetouan; the Laboratory of Marine Biotechnologies and Environment (BIOMARE) at Chouaib Doukkali University in El Jadida and the Hassan II Agronomic and Veterinary Institute in Rabat.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Yahoo
16 minutes ago
- Yahoo
NYC student reading, math scores increase amid curriculum overhaul: test data
NEW YORK — More New York City public school students are considered 'proficient readers' after two years of major curriculum reforms, according to state test scores released Monday. About 56.3% of third- through eighth-graders met the state's bar for proficiency on English Language Arts exams in the spring — a 7.2 percentage-point increase since the year before. The results erased what officials referred to as last year's 'implementation dip' as students and teachers adjusted to the new curriculum. In math, 56.9% of students scored proficient or better, up by 3.5 percentage points. With the major gains, the city's students slightly outperformed the state in both reading and math. The Adams administration touted the proficiency rates as the system's highest in more than a decade, though experts caution against making comparisons to pre-2023 data, when ELA and math tests were aligned to new standards. 'While, of course, I am thrilled that we saw these kinds of increases, it's no time to rest,' Schools Chancellor Melissa Aviles-Ramos said during an exclusive interview with the Daily News. 'What these numbers tell us is that we're on the right track. … That there's a lot of work to still do.' At the start of the 2023-24 school year, the city's public schools, under then-Chancellor David Banks, began standardizing reading curriculum as part of a literacy initiative known as 'NYC Reads.' Elementary schools were required to use one of three preapproved reading programs with a focus on evidence-based literacy instruction and phonics, which were implemented over two school years. On last year's reading exams, students who had more exposure to the curriculum tended to fare better than kids newer to the initiative. NYC Reads Phase 1 schools saw a higher increase from 48.1% to 59.7% — 11.6 percentage points in grades 3-5 — compared with districts in Phase 2, which increased 10.4 percentage points from 47.0% to 57.5%. A parallel effort is underway to standardize math curriculum in middle and high schools. While both the reading and math initiatives have been tweaked over the last year in response to teacher feedback, the Adams administration has promised to see them through. By the 2027-28 school year, Mayor Eric Adams, if reelected, has said all middle schools will be required to use city-approved programs in literacy and math. 'These academic gains in English Language Arts and math are a testament to what's possible when we invest in our young people and believe in their potential,' Adams said in a statement. The new scores come as Adams, who sat out the Democratic primary as he came up against since-dropped federal corruption charges, faces an uphill battle to reelection. Many of the mayor's most serious challengers have praised his focus on improving literacy, and the positive trend in last year's results could motivate a possible successor to stay the course. 'If the next administration sustains and expands this work, the best is yet to come!' said Banks, the former chancellor. Among the most promising signs in Monday's data were great strides by the city's youngest test takers. Third-grade students, who learned to read under the new regime and were spared COVID-19 school lockdowns, saw their ELA scores rise by 12.9 percentage points. Kim Sweet, executive director of Advocates for Children of New York, called third-graders' advances on reading exams a particularly 'hopeful signal that we are headed in the right direction.' 'At the same time,' Sweet said, 'the continued disparities by economic need, race/ethnicity, and disability status make clear that many students need extra support to become strong readers.' In math, Black and Hispanic students made the largest gains over the school year, but at 43% remain far below proficiency rates for white and Asian students: 75% and 81%, respectively. In reading, Black students made the largest gains, but still at a 47% proficiency rate compared with 73% for white students. Just 29% of students with disabilities were proficient in math and under 27% in reading. Overall, the results reinforced early progress shown this year on academic 'screeners' — fast assessments that are less comprehensive, but administered more frequently than the annual state exams. The screeners are used by teachers in real time to identify students in need of extra help. Aviles-Ramos said a major focus over the summer has been improving how teachers provide targeted support on top of classroom instruction for students who need it most. 'If that's not enough for you to understand the goal of the lesson, then sometimes you need that extra support, that intervention,' Aviles-Ramos said. 'Those practices have not necessarily been standardized — teachers do that work on their own.' 'We want to take the guesswork out of that,' added the chancellor, comparing it to taking the guesswork out of classroom instruction through curriculum mandates. _____
Yahoo
16 minutes ago
- Yahoo
Schwarber hits his 42nd homer as Phillies rally past Reds
CINCINNATI — Kyle Schwarber hit his 42nd homer of the season, a two-run shot that highlighted a four-run eighth inning, as the NL East-leading Philadelphia Phillies rallied to beat the Cincinnati Reds 4-1 Monday night, extending their winning streak to four games. Schwarber's 42nd homer moved him past Shohei Ohtani and into the NL lead. The Dodgers faced the Angels later Monday night. Seattle's Cal Raleigh leads the AL and MLB with 45 homers. Schwarber has 97 RBIs this season. Reds left-hander Andrew Abbott (8-3) allowed only three hits through seven innings. But, with two outs in the eighth, he allowed RBI doubles by Weston Wilson and Trea Turner. Schwarber followed with a two-run shot off Tony Santillan to complete the rally. Abbott bounced back after a rough outing on Wednesday when he allowed four earned runs and a pair of homers in a 6-1 loss to the Cubs at Wrigley Field. Against the Phillies, he retired the first 12 batters he faced before J.T. Realmuto doubled leading off the fifth. The Reds went ahead 1-0 when TJ Friedl doubled and scored on Gavin Lux's single in the first. It was the only run allowed by Phillies starter Taijuan Walker in his six innings. Orion Kerkering retired the Reds in order in the ninth for his third save in seven chances. Jordan Romano (2-4) earned the victory for Philadelphia, which moved six games ahead of the idle New York Mets in the division. Key moment With one out in the seventh, Reds right fielder Noelvi Marte prevented the tying run from scoring when he threw out Bryce Harper attempting to score from third on Nick Castellano's fly ball. Key stat Schwarber, who was born in nearby Middletown, Ohio, has 13 career home runs at Great American Ball Park, the most of any road ballpark. Up next Phillies LHP Ranger Suárez (8-5, 2.94 ERA) will face Reds RHP Brady Singer (9-9, 5.43 ERA) on Tuesday.
Yahoo
16 minutes ago
- Yahoo
Asia stocks mostly higher as tariff truce supports sentiment
By Jaspreet Kalra SINGAPORE (Reuters) -Most Asian stocks rose on Tuesday, buoyed by an extension of a tariff truce between the world's two largest economies, while Japanese shares hit an all-time peak, powered by tech shares after returning from a long weekend break. U.S. President Donald Trump extended a tariff truce with China by another 90 days on Monday, staving off triple-digit duties on Chinese goods, a move that was largely expected by investors and markets. Investor sentiment in recent weeks has been supported by expectations of rate cuts by the U.S. Federal Reserve, resilient U.S. corporate earnings as well as clarity on U.S. trade levies on trading partners. Japan's Nikkei climbed to a record high and was last up 2% as the country's markets reopened after a public holiday on Monday, tracking other global indices this year. Australia's benchmark index also hit a record high, ahead of a monetary policy meeting at which the central bank is widely expected to cut interest rates. [.T][.AX] That left MSCI's broadest index of Asia-Pacific shares outside Japan a tad higher. China's blue-chip stocks were flat while Hong Kong's Hang Seng index eased 0.1% in early trading. Markets have held modest ranges in recent weeks, waiting to see whether the world's two largest economies can agree on a durable trade deal or if global supply chains will again be upended by the return of steep import levies. The U.S.-China tariff truce extension "preserves the status quo for now, so no immediate implications for investment markets," said Shane Oliver, chief economist and head of investment strategy at AMP in Sydney. The U.S. and China have engaged in a tit-for-tat tariff duel throughout the year, culminating in trade talks in Geneva, London and Stockholm since May that focused on bringing retaliatory tariffs down from triple-digit levels. The latest truce extension clears the way for investors to focus on an action-packed week dominated by U.S. inflation data, a central bank policy decision in Australia and the first summit between U.S. and Russian leaders since June 2021. Traders are pricing in a 25 basis points rate cut later on Tuesday from the RBA with another cut expected by November. Investor attention will be on comments and forecasts from the central bank. "The uncertainties are around its guidance, in particular whether it still sees further scope to cut rates and whether it will remain gradual and measured," said AMP's Oliver. Globally, the spotlight will be on the release of U.S. consumer price inflation data later on Tuesday. Economists polled by Reuters have forecast that month-on-month core CPI edged up 0.3% in July, faster than the 0.2% in the previous month. "CPI will be a key test for market tone. Softer data could give small-caps a lift, but for now, mega-caps remain firmly in control," said Marc Velan, head of investments at Lucerne Investment Management. An upside surprise on inflation may also add caution to market expectations of rate cuts by the Federal Reserve this year. Investors are currently pricing in at least two rate cuts from the Fed in 2025 while J.P. Morgan expects the Fed to deliver four successive rate cuts starting in September. In commodities, gold prices were last at $3,354, having dropped nearly 1.6% on Monday after Trump said tariffs will not be placed on imported gold bars. [GOL/] Oil prices were steady ahead of the August 15 meeting between Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin, aimed at negotiating an end to the war in Ukraine. The talks follow increased U.S. pressure on Russia, raising the prospect of penalties on Moscow if a peace deal is not reached. [O/R] "The market is not pricing in significant outcomes from the meeting, but any shift in geopolitical tone could have marginal impact, particularly for commodities and certain emerging market assets," said Lucerne's Velan. Currencies were mostly calm in early trading, with the dollar steady against major peers the euro and the yen. Cryptocurrencies bitcoin and ether were a tad lower after rallying in the previous session.
