Theoretically it makes sense that a darkness period would increase the potency and aroma, but for different reasons than legend has it.
Starch is generated and stored in chloroplasts during the day and
all of it is re-mobilized as glucose and maltose at night and used for growth. The plant knows exactly how fast to use its starch reserve at night to last through exactly one predicted night length (12 hours).
This has been proven in just about every type of plant leaf with starch iodine tests, which turn black in starch. Immediately after a day period, leaves will stain black indicating high starch. Immediately after a night period, leaves will not stain.
After the plant's expected night length (12 hours), the plant goes into "starvation mode", where growth stops and respiration slows. This is where I think you'd see diminishing returns.
Anyway, the main point I'm trying to make is that a reduced mass in starch translates to higher potency, because the product is diluted with less mass in starch.
It makes it taste/smell better because uh.. stale bread smells like shit, and starch is structurally very much like cellulose (almost the same). It's chains of glucose. That means the buds don't break up as well.
Thanks guys. It still looks a bit early to chop, the buds are still swelling and the trichome bulbheads too.
I would like to try putting her three days into darkness before chopping. Legend has it that this increases potency and aroma and cuts the curing time.