Jokerz, Hella Jelly, Cherry Pie, Purple Majik — we could sit here and list strains all day long. But have you ever wondered how new cannabis strains get made? You’ve come to the right place. In this blog, we explain why cannabis genetics are important, how new strains are created, and what this means for the future of the cannabis industry.
How New Strains Are Made
First, to understand how new cannabis strains are made, we need to talk about genetics. The genetic makeup of a strain can have a significant impact on its attributes and effects. We’ve covered this in some capacity in a couple of other blogs, but here’s a quick summary. Every strain of cannabis has a unique terpene profile, and a strain can have several terpenes. Terpenes are the organic molecules responsible for giving cannabis its unique aroma, flavor, and medicinal properties. There are hundreds of different types of terpenes found in cannabis. Depending on the combination in a strain, effects can be more potent and effective. This is known as the “Entourage Effect.”
To get a new cannabis strain, growers need both male and female plants. These are the parent strains and create the plant’s lineage. Male plants are used to pollinate female plants and the seeds from the resulting plant are grown. In general, a plant’s genetic lineage will influence several factors related to its quality and yield. This includes the color of the flowers, flavor profiles, and the type of high it produces. For consumers and commercial growers alike, understanding the lineage of the plant is crucial to finding the best quality product. Which can help in the search for strains that match activity levels, lifestyles, and overall intended experiences. For example, if the strain Jack Herer gives you anxiety, you would know that Sour Jack — a cross between Jack Herer and Sour Diesel — may not be a great fit for you.
The Best Quality Comes From the Best Source Material
You don’t have to be an expert to understand that premium-quality cannabis is created from the best source material. The starting material is the most important factor in determining the end quality. A cannabis plant’s genetics are the starting material. A plant’s genetics hold a ton of value for each strain to reach its full potential.
Breeders will take cannabis plants and cross them to find offspring that exhibit the best properties of either parent plant. This process is called “selective breeding” (sometimes referred to as artificial selection). Selective breeding has been a common practice in farming for centuries. Farmers have routinely selected the pest plants, breeding their genetics after each crop rotation to improve the following harvest. Cannabis breeders and growers selectively bred over several generations, allowing the experts to push cannabis genetics to their limits. Through this process, cultivators and researchers have been able to create uniquely-tailored strains optimized for a particular use case. Selective breeding has enabled the industry to optimize the size, color, smell, density, and texture of cannabis.
Fun fact: Many of the cannabis strain lineage on the market today can be traced back to the three main foundations of cannabis breeding: Haze, Skunk, and Kush.
The Future of Cannabis Genetics
As the cannabis industry continues to evolve, so will cannabis genetics. The future of cannabis is promising, but more research is required. Currently, cultivars are working to identify commonalities between strains (terpene content, cannabinoid content, etc) that provide positive outcomes for specific symptoms.
Genetic information will continue to become more readily available, and easier to access, leading to a better understanding of cannabis’ lineage. Before the legalization of cannabis, there were reports of inconsistencies, along with a history of underground trading of seeds and growing methods. By understanding a strain’s genetics, we can better identify strains and their possible effects. This will ensure consumers interested in a specific experience can find what they’re looking for. And as cannabis genetics evolve in response to climate change, researchers, cultivators, and breeders can create new strains with increased resilience.
The Takeaway
When it comes to quality cannabis, consistency is paramount. Cannabis companies of all sizes are optimizing strains to produce effects tailored to specific use cases. That starts with understanding a strain’s genetics. Increased research into cannabis genetics means seeds created will be consistent in effects, flavors, vigor, and growth attributes. At the cultivation level, selective breeding of cannabis strains enables the industry to maximize the size of crops. This will lead to more efficient operations with every harvest.
Genetics hold the key to a strain’s attributes and effects. Every strain’s unique genetic makeup serves as a blueprint for growth within the cannabis industry — whether that’s by stabilizing current strains on the market or by creating brand new strains with highly-tailored attributes and effects.
Do you have a specific question about our custom strains or others you’ve found in the market? Drop us a note and we’ll answer your questions in an upcoming blog.