Brief History of Breeding Cannabis GENETICS 101

For centuries, cultivators have worked hard to cross and interbreed different varieties of the cannabis plant in order to bring about the most desired effects and qualities. Starting with Landrace cultivars such as Durban Poison, Acapulco Gold, Hindu Kush, and Thai were grown for their specific climates in which they originated from. As time progressed, farmers from India, Egypt, China and other parts of the world slowly became proficient in the art of cross-breeding. They used techniques such as grafting, inbreeding, backcrossing, and even careful pollination to create new types of cannabis plants that would mix the desired effects & traits for the newer generations of lineage. Afghani Kush is a prime example of a landrace that was crossbred to create cultivars to survive in other climates & regions of the world. By the early 1700s, these techniques had become widespread and the term “cannabis breeding” was coined. By the late 1930s, cannabis breeding had begun to be outlawed by both the scientific and medical community, but cultivators and farmers weren’t de- terred. The 1980’s were referred to by many as the Golden Age of Breeding, cultivators had refined their techniques and began focusing more on producing different varieties of cannabis plants. Breeders experimented with various cultivars and attempted to breed strains that would have a stronger and longer-lasting effect. Having developed methods to ensure the growth and propagation of certain strains, during this time, many cultivators interbred all different types of cultivars to find new terpene profiles. Some of the most infamous cultivars to be named, such as Chem Dawg, Purple Haze, Blue Dream, Northern Lights, Big Bud, and Skunk.

In 1835, a Swiss naturalist, Alfred Du Pont de Nemours, first described how two different species of cannabis could be crossed together to create a third hybrid species. As the years went on, breeders developed more complex and targeted methods.

This gave birth to the now popular Indica and Sativa subspecies of the cannabis plant. Landrace sativas were crossed with indicas to shorten the time of flowering and thicken the bud structure to increase visual appearance and bag appeal. The work of modern-day breeders, both commercially and locally, has seen the development of over 7,000 different varieties of cannabis, which is now used all over the world to create new, medically beneficial strains and products.

Cannabis breeding and genetics are closely related fields, as breeding involves manipulating the plant’s genetic makeup to create new strains with specific characteristics. Understanding the underlying genetics of cannabis is essential for successful breeding, as it allows breeders to predict how different strains will interact and which traits are likely to be passed onto their offsprings. Commercially accepted ways to label new cultivars start with the female plant crossed by the male plant (F x M). For example Runtz was created by crossing Zkittles x Gelato. The Zkittles cultivar had the sweet terpene profile, but produced small buds; while the Gelato cultivar was known for its ease of growing and thick bud structure, making it perfect for the now infamous Runtz

The genetic makeup of cannabis is complex, with multiple genes interacting to determine the plant’s physical and chemical characteristics. Traits such as plant height, leaf shape, flower color, and cannabinoid content are all influenced by the plant’s genetics. Additionally, the inheritance of these traits can be influenced by factors such as environmental conditions, breeding techniques, and the specific genetic makeup of the parent plants.

In order to successfully breed cannabis, breeders must carefully select parent plants that exhibit the desired traits, and then cross them in a controlled manner to create offspring with those same traits. This process can take several generations, as breeders must carefully observe and test the offspring in order to ensure that the desired traits are being passed on consistently. The first generation of new plants are referred to as the F1 generation. This batch of plants will have a wide variety of different traits all related to their parents. If the grower decides to take two plants from the F1 generation and breed them together, a F2 generation will be created. When a cultivar comes to the public market, it will usually undergo at least one full round of backcrossing to stabilize the genetics and receive similar results from each seed. Backcrossing refers to taking a plant and breeding it back with the original parent to ensure desired results are achieved.

Advances in genetics research have led to new tools and techniques for cannabis breeding, such as genome sequencing and marker-assisted selection. These tools can help breeders to more accurately predict which traits will be passed onto offspring, and can speed up the breeding process by allowing breeders to identify desirable traits more quickly. With technology making breeding easier, this will speed up the time it takes to bring a stabilized cultivar to the consumers hands.

Overall, cannabis breeding and genetics are important fields that play a critical role in the development of new and improved cannabis cultivars. By understanding the underlying genetics of the plant and using careful breeding techniques, breeders can create cultivars that meet the needs and preferences of consumers, while also advancing our understanding of this complex and fascinating plant. Today, with advancements in technology and our growing knowledge of the cannabis plant, the art of cannabis breeding has become even more precise and powerful. Breeders can now tailor their breeding efforts to develop exacting levels of terpene profiles, desired psychoactive effects, and disease resistance, allowing the perfect combination of cannabinoids, terpenes and flavonoids for any specific goal.

BY LAUREN LeBEL