SchmoeJoe
Well-Known Member
Flowering is initiated by florigen which builds up in darkness and is destroyed by light. The plant starts flowering when the nights are long enough to reach the strains particular threshold a few nights in a row. Doing that initial extended period of darkness skips the transition phase. The Emerson effect is important too but it's a different mechanic.It is far red light that helps speed flowering not darkness.
The darkness myth is about more trichomes at the end of flowering like said and ignored above.
The only thing it does do was also mentioned above. It allows the carbs in the plant to return to the roots. Good for better flavor earlier in n cure.