In recent years, cannabis genetics has drawn enormous interest from the community, especially with legalization in many countries and permission to use cannabis for medical purposes. Let’s take it step by step.
My job as a writer is to make this subject clear and interesting for you, so you can easily take in the information and expand your knowledge of cannabis. In this article, we’ll explore taxonomy and understand why breeders and botanists put so much effort into developing new strains.
What exactly are you?
The hemp family, also known as the cannabis family (Cannabaceae), is a family of plants. It is a diverse group that includes cannabis (Cannabis) and hops (Humulus), along with other genera such as Aphananthe, Gironniera, Lozanella, and Pteroceltis, which also belong to the hemp family. Each has its own unique characteristics and plays a particular role in different fields, from the food industry to pharmacology.
Plants in the hemp family have many uses across different fields. For example, hemp is used to produce textiles, food products, building materials, and medicines. Hops, another member of the family, play an important role in brewing and are used to make different types of beer.
Studying the different species and genera in the hemp family helps us better understand their biology, chemical composition, and potential uses.
The three pillars
Now I’ll tell you more about the three main species of cannabis: Cannabis sativa, Cannabis indica, and Cannabis ruderalis.
The genus Cannabis remains one of the best-known and most extensively studied in the hemp family. Cannabis species such as Cannabis sativa, Cannabis indica, and Cannabis ruderalis have different morphological and chemical properties.
Cannabis sativa
They have long, narrow leaves and an elongated shape.
Cannabis indica
Indica leaves are wider and thicker.
Cannabis ruderalis
This is the third species of cannabis, distinguished from sativa and indica by its ability to A plant that starts flowering independently of the length of the day. autoflower ↗︎. This means that ruderalis plants begin flowering regardless of day length. They are usually short and have broad leaves.
However, its autoflowering properties make it popular with breeders because it can be used to create hybrids with autoflowering traits.
Stirred, not shaken
Cannabis is an amazing plant with a wide variety of strains, ranging from pure indica, sativa, or ruderalis to numerous combinations in different proportions.
I think it’s time to learn and remember two terms: phenotype and genotype.
Genotype means the set of genes and genetic information found inside every cell of an organism. It determines the organism’s inherited properties and developmental potential. Genes are like instructions contained in DNA that determine an organism’s various characteristics and functions. Genotype plays an important role in shaping phenotype—the organism’s external and internal features that we can observe.
One of the key factors behind differences between strains is their genetic characteristics.
Cannabis strains also have a wide variety of aromas and flavors. These can be fruity, citrusy, spicy, woody, and many others. These aromas and flavors come from the different terpenes, which are aromatic compounds present in the plant.
Modern cannabis classification also often uses the terms “chemovars” and “chemotypes” to better understand its diversity and characteristics.
Build your collection
Genetic diversity plays an extremely important role in the world of cannabis. It encompasses the range of genetic characteristics and variations present in different cannabis strains. This gives cannabis plants resilience and adaptability to the different conditions and challenges they encounter.
The importance of genetic diversity comes down to several key aspects:
- Resistance to diseases and pests: Genetic diversity helps develop plants with different defense mechanisms against diseases and pests. When strains have different genetic characteristics, they may be less susceptible to certain pests or diseases, contributing to the overall resilience and health of the cannabis population.
- The more different genetic lines there are, the more opportunities there are to study and understand different genetic mechanisms and develop new hybrid strains with desirable traits.
Overall, an abundance of genetic variation is a cornerstone of preserving and developing cannabis. It provides resilience, adaptability, and strain variations that can meet every user’s needs.
Save it!
Preserving cannabis genetics is critically important for ensuring the long-term resilience and diversity of the plant’s strains.
There is a whole community of people actively involved in preserving cannabis genetics. First, let’s briefly get acquainted with two terms: “seedbank” and “breeder.”
Seedbanks maintain collections of genetic material gathered from different cannabis plants.
In the context of cannabis, a breeder is someone who selects and breeds new cannabis strains. They are a kind of plant genetic engineer.
Seedbanks collect seeds from different cannabis strains and store them under special conditions to ensure their long-term preservation.
These guys play an important role in preserving and promoting cannabis genetic diversity.
The takeaway
So, man, we’ve finished our first article in the Genetics Made Clear series. I hope it has helped you expand your knowledge of different cannabis species and strains and understand why preserving genetic diversity is a key part of developing this plant.