Hello dear OG community.
I have found an old study of terpene loss due to the process of drying, specifically loss of total oil, and rate of transformation of monoterpenes to sesquiterpenes. Unfortunately, researches werent introduced to curing of cannabis plant material, which may have prevented loss of terpenes. However, company called Eybna did some research (altough i couldnt find research paper), and states that:
“Findings show that at the fresh, planted state, a cultivar has the highest expression of monoterpenes like Beta Myrcene, Alpha Pinene, Beta Pinene, and Limonene. After one week of drying and curing, each of these terpenes decreased significantly — Beta Myrcene content decreased by 55%. While monoterpenes were decreased during the curing process, sesquiterpenes like Alpha Humulene and Beta-Caryophyllene were increased. Sesquiterpenes almost doubled in their ratio from the total terpene content in data taken after the harvest processes were complete, with Alpha-Humulene increasing 100% and Germacrene increasing 154%. (…) The study results also showed the significant evaporation curve of some other highly volatile compounds responsible for the cannabis top aromatic notes.” - Researchers Reveal How Curing Cannabis Affects Terpene Levels | Ganjapreneur
…which would suggest same happens while in curing also.
This is only study I have found, if you have any newer data, please share so it can be examined.
The Volatile Oil Composition of Fresh and Air-Dried Buds of Cannabis sativa.pdf (372.9 KB)
They saw loss of 31% of volatile oils after 1 week of drying, 44.8% after 1 week of drying and 1 month of storage, and 55.2% loss after 1 week of drying and 3 months of storage, with significant change of monoterpenes to sesquiterpenes, as shown in table below.
Table below shows exact ammount of terpenes for each drying period.
It seems best suited to extract terpenes when fresh cut, and add sesquiterpenes that would be express after curing like b-caryophyllene from lets say Copaiba essential oil or other, then cure plant material with preferable method, altough from my studies and understanding of curing process, i am concerned that the extraction of terpenes may hinder any further production of cannabinoids, even when done at low temps, supported by some carrier gas in vacuum oven then cold trapping it, since loss of terpenes may interfere with biological processes that cause cannabinoid production in curing, and it deviates from all known temp/hum variables of curing process that users say produce best yield/potency.
I would like to see results of THCa and CBDa levels of fresh vs cured cannabis plant material, if anyone has some, please share with me. =)
@Purple-N-Hairy I know you were interested in THC levels of fresh vs cured, so far i found no studies, only some bussines growers stating that extracted fresh material yields less oil. Search for truth goes on!
Peace
Indeeeeed… 
wicking away moisture/VOCs. Because it does do that, (IME).
