By Steven Voser Reviewed by: Andreu Francés

Today, thousands of cannabis varieties exist, and breeders around the globe continue to add to the tally. To help you understand what goes into creating the varieties you love most, we’ve created this handy list of cannabis genetics terminology.


Understanding Cannabis Strains And Genetics

Cannabis falls into the category of a dioecious plant. This means that individual plants have either male or female reproductive organs, not both. Female plants grow flowers that develop glandular trichomes—structures that produce phytochemicals such as cannabinoids and terpenes. Male plants possess small sacs that release pollen to fertilise female plants.

However, cannabis plants can sometimes be monoecious, meaning both male and female sex organs emerge on the same plant. This occurs due to either genetic or environmental factors, and ultimately allows a plant to fertilise itself. Known as hermaphroditism, it serves as an impressive reproduction mechanism for stressed plants, yet most growers try to avoid this phenomenon as it causes their flowers to produce seeds.

Cannabis is a genus of flowering plants belonging to the Cannabaceae family (which also comprises hops and other plant species). While cannabis grows all over the world, it is believed to originate from Central Asia, which is also likely where it was first domesticated.

Besides being dioecious, cannabis plants can be further divided into three distinct subspecies; Cannabis sativa (C. sativa subsp. sativa), Cannabis indica (C. sativa subsp. indica), and Cannabis ruderalis (C. sativa subsp. ruderalis), all of which have unique traits:

Cannabis sativa

These plants originate from warmer, tropical climates. They typically have longer flowering times and grow taller with large internodal spacing. Sativas tend to produce large, airy buds that can stand up to warm, humid conditions.

Cannabis indica

Indicas originate from colder regions in Central Asia and the Indian subcontinent. They grow shorter and bushier, have shorter flowering periods (as they adapted to the shorter summers in these regions), and typically produce more dense buds than sativas.

Cannabis ruderalis

Discovered in Russia in the 1920s, ruderalis plants grow very small, typically reaching maximum heights of 60cm, and develop thin, slightly fibrous stems with few branches and flowers. Unlike Cannabis sativa and indica, which flower based on changes to their photoperiod, ruderalis plants begin to flower automatically once they are about 4 weeks old.

A Note on Hemp

People often confuse hemp as a separate species of cannabis. However, hemp is just a term used to refer to cannabis varieties that have been bred for industrial purposes, such as to produce fibre for textiles. Hemp plants typically have very low concentrations of THC and produce big, thick stems and few branches.

Understanding Cannabis Genotype and Phenotype

The difference between genotype and phenotype is a fundamental concept you need to wrap your head around in order to properly understand cannabis genetics.

Genotype

This refers to a cannabis plant’s genetic composition, or the combination of genes passed down from its parents. These genes serve as a code for the potential traits a plant might express, including characteristics such as height, internodal spacing, color, and leaf shape. Overall, think of genotype as the instructions for all of the potential traits a plant could develop based on the genetic information inherited from its parents.

Phenotype

Whereas genotype is all about genetic instructions, phenotype refers to the combination of traits a plant actually expresses as it grows. Phenotype is influenced by both genetic and environmental factors.

Cannabis Phenotype vs Genotype: Example

Genotypes are determined by the genes a plant inherits from its parents. Each gene can present two or more alleles, which are variant forms of a gene that differ in DNA sequence and carry information that code for different traits. The children of a human couple, or seeds of a plant, can carry different alleles despite having the same parents. For example, two children born of the same parents may have a different eye color. The same applies to cannabis seeds. After crossing a female with a male, breeders end up with seeds that possess genetic variations.

As an example for growers, two seeds from the same parents have two different genotypes. This means they’ll display slightly different traits even when grown under the exact same conditions.

How does this differ from a phenotype? Well, phenotype describes how a plant looks and behaves; i.e. how the genotype interacts with the environment to determine a plant’s traits.

Let’s say you’ve just sown a packet of seeds from the same parents. Throughout the growing cycle, you treat them all exactly the same. You give them all the same soil, nutrients, water, pot size, and light exposure. Despite the strict environmental conditions, you’ll still notice subtle differences between each plant come harvest time. That’s because each of them features a distinct genotype.

Many breeders use phenotype selection to produce new strains. By selecting the plants that grow the best in the same environment, they can tease out desired traits over subsequent generations. Remember, a phenotype depends on both genes and the environment, not genes alone. Therefore, even clones (which share the same genotype) can develop different phenotypes based on external conditions. For example, placing two different cuttings from the same plant at different distances from a light source will affect their height.

Cannabis Genetics Dictionary: Understanding Genetics and Breeding Terminology

Now that you have a solid understanding of the basic principles of cannabis genetics, here is an overview of some terms used to describe different cannabis varieties.

Chemovar / Chemotype / Cultivar / Strain

You may have noticed people in the cannabis space interchanging the terms chemovar, chemotype, cultivar, and strain.

Although they’re all related, there are some important distinctions to consider.

1. Chemovar and Chemotype

These terms are often used interchangeably, and reference a method of categorizing strains based on their dominant cannabinoid(s)—and more recently, their secondary cannabinoids, terpenes, and flavonoids. The three main chemotypes are THC-dominant, CBD-dominant, and balanced CBD:THC varieties.

2. Cultivar vs Strain

The term cultivar refers to a cultivated plant variety. Essentially, it refers to plants that humans have grown and interfered with to “better them” for a particular purpose. Most of the vegetables and fruit we buy at the supermarket come from specific cultivars that have been bred to produce large yields, for example.

“Strain”, on the other hand, is most commonly used in virology and microbiology to refer to the genetic variance of microorganisms such as viruses and bacteria. While it is also commonly used to refer to genetic variance in cannabis, the correct term would be “cultivar”, seeing that cannabis has long been cultivated and bred by humans for a variety of purposes.

As our understanding of cannabis grows, using the right terminology to describe different types is extremely important. At RQS, we think it is vital to demystify cannabis lingo and begin adopting terms like chemovar and cultivar to refer to the cannabis varieties we’re growing and breeding, rather than solely using outdated terms like sativa, indica, or strain.

Understanding Cannabis Genetics Terminology

Stabilisation

Genetics is the study of genes, which are made up of segments of DNA that essentially lay down the foundations for the traits a plant might develop. Cannabis plants, like many other organisms, may express alternative versions of a specific gene (known as alleles). The expression of different alleles is what causes plants to develop different traits and grow into different phenotypes.

Stabilising cannabis involves using breeding techniques to create cultivars with less allelic diversity (or versions) in their genes. Over time, this produces stable plants that express more uniform traits, ultimately resulting in a more consistent and reliable product (seeds) for growers. 

Purebreds and Landraces

Today, calling a cannabis variety “pure” is pretty misleading. The truth is that cannabis has been vigorously crossbred over (at least) the last 40 years by humans, and likely for thousands of years before that by nature itself (in nature, a single male cannabis plant is capable of pollinating females many kilometres away). So for a grower or breeder to refer to a particular cultivar as a "pure breed" is pretty obnoxious.

The term landrace is also pretty polemic. Growers and breeders use this to refer to cannabis varieties that developed in their natural environment and were never crossed with any other foreign variety. While landrace cannabis varieties definitely existed in the past, whether they are still around today is debatable. We highly recommend checking out the Phylos Galaxy[1] for an impressive visual display of the complexity of the cannabis gene pool, and how varieties have been meticulously crossbred for decades, and even centuries.

Understanding Cannabis Genetics Terminology

Heirloom Varieties

Heirloom is a horticultural term used to refer to primitive cultivars that are open-pollinated and not used widely in agriculture. Heirloom varieties typically also haven’t been genetically manipulated or otherwise interfered with.

If you were to fly to the Himalayas, track down an heirloom cannabis variety growing naturally in the region, take a clone from that plant, and continue to grow that same plant in your bedroom in Barcelona, for example, that plant would be considered an heirloom cannabis cultivar.

Crossbreeding

Crossbreeding refers to the act of taking one cannabis cultivar and crossing it with another. The simplest way to do this would be to take pollen from a male cannabis plant and use it to pollinate the flowers of a female plant. These plants would then be considered “parents” of the resulting crossbreed.

Inbred Lines (IBLs)

Selfing marijuana cultivars are obtained by using parent plants with predictable traits. This results in a high degree of homozygosity—the state of possessing two identical alleles for a particular gene, one from each parent. Breeders achieve this by inbreeding—either "selfing" the plant or crossing two plants of the same genotype. Selfing refers to a technique where breeders force a plant to become a hermaphrodite and breed with itself. Such stable genetics are often found among wild landrace populations of cannabis that breed in isolation for long periods of time. 

How are F1 Seeds Created?

F1 Hybrid

The term F1 stands for “filial 1” and refers to the first line of offspring produced by crossing two inbred lines. For example, if you used an inbred line of Royal Gorilla males to pollinate an inbred line of Sherbet Queen, the resulting plants would be considered F1 hybrids. Because of the genetic stability of the parents, the progeny would also display consistency and uniformity. 

Polyhybrids

Polyhybrids are cannabis varieties bred from the crossing of two F1 hybrids. Polyhybrids have more genetic variation than F1 hybrids, as they are composed of four IBLs. Normally, polyhybrids are used when hybrid seed production is low in the inbreeding lines. When two F1 hybrids are crossed, the seed production is higher due to the hybrid vigour.

Backcross (BC)

Cannabis breeders use backcrossing to introduce a specific trait to a variety, such as resistance to a certain pest. This involves crossing a first-generation hybrid plant with a clone of one of its parents. In essence, backcrossing helps to diminish alleles from one parent and stabilise specific traits from the other parent.

Backcrossing helps to eradicate bad traits and fix the desirable ones. By crossing a progeny with one of its parents, the new offspring will feature the genetic background of one parent and the interesting gene/genes from the other. This strengthens the traits sought after by the breeders, and increases the likelihood of them appearing more abundantly in future generations.

Backcrosses are usually labelled BC1, BC2, BC3, etc., with the number reflecting the generation of the cross.

S1

S1 is a term used to describe the first generation of cannabis seeds produced by crossing a cannabis cultivar with itself. While there are different ways to do this, most breeders use stress to force a female plant into producing pollen and pollinating itself—a process known as “selfing”.

Buy F1 Hybrids

Cannabis Genetics Demystified

The wide world of cannabis genetics can be hard to understand. Whether you’re looking to start breeding your own cultivars or just want to have a deeper understanding of cannabis and what goes into creating the varieties you love most, make sure to keep this list handy!

External Resources:
  1. The Phylos Galaxy https://phylos.bio
Disclaimer:
This content is for educational purposes only. The information provided is derived from research gathered from external sources.

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Privacy Policy - Royal Queen Seeds

To ensure a safe online environment and guarantee adequate data protection, we strictly comply with all legal requirements. In this privacy statement, we provide information about how and for what purpose data is collected, safety measures, storage periods and contact details.


COMPANY NAME: SNORKEL SPAIN, SL (hereinafter ROYAL QUEEN SEEDS)

C/ Vilar d'Abdelà, 5 (nave 1) CP: 08170 de Montornès del Vallès

+34 937 379 846

support@royalqueenseeds.com


The present Privacy Policy sets out the terms on which we will treat personal data at ROYAL QUEEN SEEDS; this includes any personal data collected through our website https://www.royalqueenseeds.com/ as well as any other data we process in the course of our business activities.

ROYAL QUEEN SEEDS collects the following personal data for the purposes listed below:

SECTION 1 – PERSONAL INFORMATION WE COLLECT

1.1 Account purchases

Account purchases can only be made if you are in possession of a personal account. When you create an account or purchase something from our shop, as part of the buying and selling process we collect the following personal information that you provide to us:

This information is required for delivery. In addition, when you browse our shop, we automatically receive the Internet Protocol (IP) address of your computer. Based on this information, we can optimise your online experience and at the same time protect our online environment.

Purpose of data collection

We collect and store account-related data for the following purposes:

(a) to carry out obligations arising from any contracts between you and us, and to provide you with information, products and services that you may request from us;

(b) to set up, manage and communicate with you about your account and your orders;

(c) to conduct market research and analysis;

(d) to confirm your age and identity, and to detect and prevent fraud.

1.2 Newsletters

With your explicit permission, we may send you newsletters about our shop, new products and other updates. We send newsletters based on your explicit consent. In the event that you purchase a product, and in accordance with current regulations, we may send you commercial communications in accordance with the legitimate interest of our company, always about products or services similar to those you have purchased or contracted. In any case, you may exercise your right of opposition through the channels announced in this Privacy Policy. The following information is collected in relation to the newsletter:

We do not need to know the sex of the person in order to send the newsletter (data minimisation: by law we must ask for data that is strictly necessary to provide the service, and in this case knowing the sex is not necessary to send the newsletter).

Purpose of data collection

The data collected is used to:

(a) personalise our emails, including your name and gender;

(b) provide gender-specific content.

You can withdraw your consent at any time by using the link provided in the newsletter or the contact information provided in section 2.

1.3 Customer service and contact form

In order to provide appropriate support, our customer service employees have access to information related to the account. Consequently, their support will be highly effective and friendly. The data provided in our contact form is used by our CRM provider, SuperOffice. We will only use your details to respond to your message.

SECTION 2 – LEGITIMATE INTEREST

If you have purchased any of our products, please note that we may process your personal data for promotional purposes, based on Royal Queen Seeds' legitimate interest only to offer you products or services from our company and about products or services similar to those you have purchased. You may exercise your right to opt out of future messages by the means set out in this Privacy Policy or through any notification you receive.

2.1 How do you withdraw consent?

If you change your mind, you can withdraw your consent for us to contact you for the purpose of collecting, using, or disclosing your data at any time by reaching out to us at: support@royalqueenseeds.com.

SECTION 3 – DISCLOSURE

We may disclose your personal information if we are required to do so by law or if you breach our Terms of Service.

SECTION 4 – HOW LONG DO WE KEEP YOUR DATA?

At Royal Queen Seeds, we will not retain your data for longer than is necessary for the purposes described in this Policy. Different retention periods apply for different types of data; however, the longest period we will normally hold any personal data is 10 years.

4.1 Account information

Data relating to the account remains relevant for as long as the consumer is in possession of an account. Therefore, the data remains documented for as long as the account exists. When our customers delete an account, the associated data will be deleted within a reasonable period of time. Requests regarding the inspection or correction of stored personal data or the deletion of an account can be sent to support@royalqueenseeds.com.

4.2 Newsletters

In the event that you give us your consent to inform you about our products or services, we will keep your data until you express your wish not to receive any further communications from us. However, we regularly (every month) carry out a relevance check. Registered customers (and their personal information) will be deleted whenever customers do not reply to our request. In addition, our newsletter mailing has an opt-out feature. Consumers can withdraw their consent by using this opt-out feature.

SECTION 5 – COOKIES

Cookies are small information files that notify your computer of previous interactions with our website. These cookies are stored on your hard drive, not on our website. Essentially, when you use our website, your computer displays its cookies to us, informing our site that you have visited before. This allows our website to function more quickly and remember aspects related to your previous visits (such as your username), making your experience more convenient. At Royal Queen Seeds, we use two types of cookies: functional and analytical.

5.1 Functional Cookies

Functional cookies are used to enhance your online experience. Among other things, these cookies track what is added to your shopping cart. The use of these cookies does not require prior authorization.

5.2 Analytical Cookies

Analytical cookies are used for research and market analysis. The data collected with these analytical cookies is anonymous, making it unusable for third parties. The use of these cookies does not require prior authorization.

SECTION 5 – THIRD-PARTY SERVICES

Third-party services are required to conduct transactions and provide our services. In general, the third-party providers we use will only collect, use and disclose your information to the extent necessary to enable them to perform the services they provide to us.

However, certain third-party service providers, such as payment gateways and other payment transaction processors, have their own privacy policies regarding the information we must provide to them for your transactions.

We encourage you to read the privacy policies of these providers so that you can understand how these providers will handle your personal information.

In particular, certain suppliers may be located or have facilities located in a different jurisdiction than yours or ours. Therefore, if you choose to proceed with a transaction involving the services of a third party, your information may be subject to the laws of the jurisdiction in which that service provider or its facilities are located.

Once you leave our website or are redirected to a third-party website or application, you are no longer governed by this Privacy Policy or the Terms of Service of our website.

Web analytics service (anonymous data)

On this website we have integrated an element of a web analytics service (with anonymisation functionality). Web analytics can be defined as the gathering, processing and analysis of data about the behaviour of visitors to websites. An analytics service collects, among other things, data about which website a person came from (the so-called referrer), which sub-pages they visited or how often and for how long they visited a sub-page. Web analytics is mainly used for website optimisation and for a cost–benefit analysis of internet advertising.

Courier service

To complete deliveries we use a courier service. This courier service carries out the delivery between our company and the consumer's home. To complete these logistics, the company requires access to the consumer's name and address information.

Mailing service

Royal Queen Seeds uses a third-party mail service provider to send its newsletter. This provider has access to limited account information related to opt-in consent (e.g. email address).

Marketing services

Royal Queen Seeds has the support of a company that specialises in marketing and communication activities. Their access to personal information is very limited and mostly anonymous.

Payment services

At Royal Queen Seeds we use external payment services to handle our transactions (e.g. credit card payments).

SECTION 6 – SECURITY

To protect your personal information, we take reasonable precautions and follow industry standard best practices to ensure that it is not inappropriately lost, misused, accessed, disclosed, altered or destroyed.

If you provide us with your credit card information, the information is encrypted using secure socket layer technology (SSL) and stored using AES-256 encryption. Although no method of transmission over the internet or electronic storage is 100% secure, we follow all PCI-DSS requirements and implement additional industry standards that are commonly accepted. Information related to the account is protected with a hashing method. This method transforms the information into a generated hash. As a result, confidential information is protected and invisible, even to us. In addition, our databases are exceptionally protected against unauthorised access. For example, access to the database is only possible and permitted via approved IP addresses (e.g. from Royal Queen Seeds headquarters). Other attempts and addresses are rejected at all times.

Furthermore, data is anonymised as much as possible, so it cannot be directly linked to a specific consumer. With this data, however, we may be able to carry out market research and analysis. In addition, the third parties concerned (e.g. mailing service) are examined prior to our collaboration, comply with the GDPR from the EU and receive a processing agreement. Within Royal Queen Seeds, employees are assigned different access permissions. Specific permission provides access only to information that is strictly required to perform a task. Digital security measures are subject to change and must meet high requirements to ensure the safety of online customers. That is why, at Royal Queen Seeds, we appoint a security officer. Regular verification and improvement of security measures (where necessary) are part of the role.

SECTION 7 – CHANGES TO THIS PRIVACY POLICY

We reserve the right to modify this Privacy Policy at any time, so please check back regularly. Changes and clarifications will be effective immediately upon being published on the Website. If we make substantial changes to this policy, we will notify you here that it has been updated so you will know what information we collect, how we use it and under what circumstances, if any, we use and/or disclose it.

SECTION 8 – YOU HAVE THE RIGHT TO: