Genetics Cannabis cultivation

1 genetics

1.1 selection of mother plants
1.2 autoflowering strains
1.3 feminized seeds
1.4 hybrid vigor

genetics
selection of mother plants

an important factor while cultivating photoperiod independent (non-autoflowering) cannabis selecting best genetics 1 s crop. done selecting 1 or more known strains, or strains preferred genetics, , growing number plants find exhibit characteristics desirable. these genetics should typically yield @ least 1 gram per watt per month of flower.

plant characteristics selected include:

overall yield
time fruition
resistance pests
geometric traits (uniformity, compactness, flower density, etc.)
color
flavor and/or aroma
appeal end buyer (known bag appeal )
psychoactive qualities
trichome density , type (stalked or sessile)

autoflowering strains

a ruderalis (auto-flowering) cannabis plant

autoflowering cannabis strains, known day-neutral cannabis relatively new development home cultivator. these autoflower strains crosses contain high percentages of known photoperiod strains , cannabis ruderalis autoflowering characteristics. plant produced autoflowering seeds transition short vegetative period, 2 3 weeks germination, flowering regardless of photoperiod. result no separate vegetative , flowering lighting environment needed. flowering dependent on plants age not time of year or ratio of light dark hours. autoflowers finish seed in 12/12, 18/6, 20/4 or 24/0 lighting.

the first autoflowering cannabis seed came on market lowryder #1. hybrid between cannabis ruderalis, called william’s wonder , northern lights #2. genetics of ruderalis still highly present made low yield , little psychoactive effect.

after many years of autoflower inbreeding seed makers have come autoflowering strains can produce yields close regular strains , still flowering independent light cycle. first autoflowering strains came breeder stich major seed companies have strains of super autoflowers can grow 2 meters , produce yields 900 g/m of growth.

feminized seeds

instability of gender desirable trait in wild, reproduction urgent goal. in cultivation, gender predictability more helpful, because female plants have not been pollinated productive of psychotropic material. possible use combination of cloning , shocking of plants them produce feminized seeds reliably produce female offspring. clone retains same sex throughout life, clone of female plant female.

c. indica seeds

environmental stresses create pollen bearing male flowers on female plants—known hermaphroditism or hermying .

a method used organic growers , promulgated cannabis breeder soma, called rodelization , or letting un-pollinated female plants live several weeks longer normal harvest time. in such plants hermaphroditic trait self-expresses in effort continue genetic line.

some vendors of feminized seeds assert hermaphroditic parents not create reliable feminized seeds, since offspring may retain tendency of hermaphrodytism. others believe method utilizing auto-hermaphroditic traits offset grower observations tendency auto-switch sex no greater in plants grown seeds made way, occurs naturally.

colloidal silver (commonly abbreviated cs) suppresses ethylene production in bud sites, stimulating male characteristics. spraying selected leaves, branches and – in cases large amount of seed desired – whole plants colloidal silver solution has become preferred method of obtaining feminized seeds. plants treated cs turn intersex within 2 weeks of triweekly treatment, producing viable pollen within 4. gibberellic acid has been used same purpose, harder acquire colloidal silver , can difficult dissolve solution. 1 method of obtaining colloidal silver utilizes small direct current power supply , 2 pieces of solid silver jeweler s wire, or silver coin.

some cultivators claim genes responsible hermaphroditism present , may expressed under stress of above methods , once expressed, characteristic passes seeds regardless of activated it. view, in large part, incorrect, random half of genes present in each of parental plants passes next generation, regardless of whether genes contribute hermaphroditism induced stressors or not. accepted mendelian model of inheritance (mendelian inheritance) allow genetic mutations have occurred in germline (germline) of organism passed on offspring, process applies dna sequences, not contributing hermaphroditism. inheritance of acquired characteristics (lamarckism) not directly coded in dna sequence (epigenetics) has received attention in area of genetic research , possibly explain anecdotal evidence increased hermaphroditism in offspring of plants induced hermaphroditic state. however, more explanation propagating plants induced hermaphroditism environmental stressors, frequency of genetic elements contributing trait increased artificial selection following traditional genetic models of inheritance. theories suggest possible selectively breed hermaphroditic cannabis express female flowering before male flowering occurs, though kind of selective breeding beyond capabilities of cultivators.

hybrid vigor

when crossing 2 strains of cannabis (or 2 of plant), resultant hybrid may possess called hybrid vigor. in general, produces plant healthier, stronger, or quicker growing predecessors. sometimes, in case of plant has been brought fruiting (fruition, mentioned above), may beneficial cross (close) relative, in hopes becomes invigorated.

caution should exercised, 1 not attain beneficial cross hybridizing.