Genetics plays a major role in determining the growth, yield, resilience, and overall quality. This is also true for cannabis. The genome of cannabis determines everything, from disease resistance and harvest rate to bud size and terpene profiles. Percentage of THC or CBD, how resilient it is to climatic conditions, pests, and diseases, or how predictable its gender outcome is, are also deemed important by cultivators. So, it is important that growers choose a stable and high-performing strain for cultivation success. If you want to know more about the importance of genetics in cannabis cultivation, then keep reading.
Why Genetics Are the Backbone of Cannabis Cultivation
Cannabis genetics determine main characteristics like potency, aroma, and disease-resistance. When these traits are passed down through generations, the overall quality, yield, and growth of plants are directly influenced.
Defining Cannabis Genetics
Genetics is the traits inherited by a cannabis plant. It determines the characteristics of cannabis. Offspring plants inherit the traits of their parent plant. So, the expression of certain characteristics is influenced in every new generation. For example, a cannabis plant with high THC genetics will certainly produce buds that are high in THC.
How Genetics Influences Growth and Yield
Here is how genetics influences the factors for the yield and growth of cannabis.
- Flowing Time: Genetics determines the time required by a cannabis plant to flower. It is about how fast a strain matures.
- Yield: Genetics determines the possible yield from a plant. It is about how many more buds a strain produces.
- Potency: Genetics determines the level of cannabinoids like CBD and THC in cannabis. It is about how strong the therapeutic and psychoactive effects are. For example, Grounded Genetics focuses on high-THC strains.
- Disease-Resistance: Genetics also determines how resilient a plant is. It is about how simple it is to cultivate due to resistance against common cannabis pests and diseases.
- Growth and Structure: Genetics determines the overall size, shape, and branching patterns of cannabis plants. It is about the interaction with the environment and the light-capturing ability.
- Terpenes: Genetics determines the terpene content in cannabis. It is about the taste and aroma. Seed breeders like Grounded Genetics modify genetics to produce strains with desirable terpenes.
What Cannabis Seeds Should You Choose?
You can get cannabis seeds in four main categories. Let’s check them out in detail.
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Regular |
Feminized | Auto-Flowering |
CBD |
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| Descriptions: | 50% likelihood of getting either a male or a female. | 99.9% likelihood of getting female plants. | Grows easily, flowers fast, and size remains stealthy. | Comes with high cannabinoid levels. |
| Pros: | Useful for breeding and creating new strains. | Guaranteed female plants for great buds. | Hardy, and does not require a change in light cycle to grow flowers. | Strain can produce calming effects without a high. |
| Cons: | The gender of germinating seeds can be unpredictable. | Not suitable for breeding or producing viable clones. | Higher CBD and lower THC content make it less potent. | Low THC levels mean low psychoactive effects. |
| Users: | Breeders/ Cloners like Growers Choice Seeds | Flower-focused growers/ Growers avoiding male plants | Beginner growers/ Growers with limited space | Daytime/THC-sensitive users |
| Examples: | White Widow and AK-47 | Royal Gorilla and Sweet ZZ | Green Gelato and Royal Cheese Auto | Solomatic CBD and Medical Mass |
Table 1: Comparison of Seed-types
The Role of Breeders and Seed Banks
A reputable source of seed is important for getting stable and predictable cultivation results. Breeders and seed banks like Growers Choice Seeds can provide you with high-quality seeds with immense genetic diversity. You can get seeds that will germinate to provide a cannabis plant with specific traits.
The predictability of germination is what makes it possible to breed, clone, and further modify strains. For example, if you want to cultivate highly potent cannabis, you can get seeds that guarantee female plants with high THC content. Similarly, if you are a beginner grower, you can get seeds of disease-resistant or quick-flowering strains.
Genetic Stability and Phenotype Expression
You must have understood the role of genotype. Now, let’s understand phenotypes.
Understanding Phenotype Variation
You may notice differences in traits even when the seeds are from the same genetic strain. This is known as phenotype variation, and this is influenced by both genetics and the environment.
Factors like temperature, nutrition, sunlight, water, and solid composition, along with genetics, can influence phenotype. Moreover, the extent to which certain gene variants shape phenotype can also vary.
Why Stable Genetics Lead to Predictable Results
Stable genetics can help you get predictable results in terms of potency, growth, yield, and disease resistance. So, stable genetics helps lower the variations in phenotype and gene expression. This is necessary for enjoying consistent performance across generations and environmental conditions.
With stable genetics, you can minimise the chances of unexpected traits regarding bud yield, plant height, disease susceptibility, and more.
So, Which Seeds Are You Getting?
Genetics shape everything, from potency and aroma to resilience and yield. So, getting seeds of good quality and stable genetics is important. Different strains have different dominant traits. The genetics of the seeds you get will determine the key traits of the plant that will germinate.
Genetics helps breeders control desired and undesired traits over generations. Genetics helps growers predict the traits of the plants a seed will germinate into. And genetics also determines how easy it is to grow a plant. So, decide on the type of traits you prefer, and order cannabis seeds accordingly.
