Understanding Hermies
THE marijuana GROWER'S GUIDE
by Mel Frank and Ed Rosenthal
"Heritage sets the genetic program, but the environment can influence how the program runs. (Sexualexpression in Cannabis is delicately balanced between the two.) The photoperiod, for example, controls the plant's sequence of development. Also, the plant's metabolism and life processes are dependent on growingconditions. When the environment does not allow a balance to be maintained, the normal genetic program may not be followed. This is mirrored by abnormal growth or sexual expression."
"Abnormal sexual expression includes a whole range of possibilities. Individual flowers may form abnormally, and may contain varying degrees of both male and female flower parts."
The above was taken from your post (
@RM3).
Dependent upon genetics, others stressors, and the severity of the light leak, the leak can "confuse" the plant (in regards to the photoperiod). The plant recognizes light and dark. Part of the plant feels that it is time to sleep, another part of the plant wants to continue photosynthesis. Additionally, this can trigger modification of PIF7, as the plant may believe that it is indeed "daylight", but that it is being blocked by another plant or other obstruction. This results in unnecessary production of auxins. At that point, the plant is now using energy to elongate stems and leaves in an effort to "chase" the light (to beat it's competitor, or "overshadow" the obstruction).
We don't want the plant to produce abnormal sexual expressions, nor do we want want it to frivolously exhaust energy on unnecessary stem and leaf development. In an effort to mitigate these, periods of light and dark are best kept "distinct" and "uniform".
On topic, I'm sure that there are.