In the past, breeders often relied on inbreeding to stabilize desired traits in cannabis plants. This generally meant breeding new plants back to their parents over successive generations. While inbreeding can stabilize specific traits, it can also weaken the organism and make it more vulnerable to disease. Inbred humans, such as the royal Habsburgs of Europe, have underscored this lesson for humanity: genetic diversity is strength. Modern breeding practices may still include inbreeding, but are now leaning into advanced technologies that avoid some of its pitfalls.
Genetic Diversity is Strength
All living things are made up of cells, and within those cells is DNA that serves as the blueprint for the entire organism—in essence, DNA tells the cells what to do and what to become. The DNA is arranged in pairs of chromosomes contributed by each parent, and this pairing shapes the traits the new organism will inherit from them. Well, that’s the story in nature, at least.
Plant breeders have engineered strategies that involve adding extra chromosomes to shape very specific traits in the plants they breed. This is called polyploidy, and it’s how the big, sweet, seedless watermelon you will enjoy this summer was likely bred.
Cannabis Polyploids Are Coming
Polyploid cannabis. PHOTO: Cannapio
Polyploidy is a condition in which a plant has more than two sets of chromosomes, which can happen when a plant’s cells divide incorrectly or when a plant is exposed to radiation or certain chemicals. Polyploid breeding can be used to overcome non-viability and infertility issues, create seedless cultivars, or enhance traits such as pest and pathogen resistance.
Polyploidy is just one new tactic that researchers are experimenting with to create cannabis cultivars now that the plant can be legally grown and studied. Researchers are also playing with cannabis genetic modification to directly edit DNA for traits like pest and pathogen resistance, yield, and cannabinoid content as well.
Many of these practices hold great promise for plant breeding but also raise significant controversy. For instance, the best known case of genetic modification in plants is Monsanto’s Round Up® Ready crops, which were genetically modified soy, cotton, and corn crops that could survive application of the company’s RoundUp® (Glyphosate) weed killer (herbicide), which is now associated with a wide range of diseases and illnesses and the impetus for anti-GMO movements.
We break down the science and the controversies behind inbreeding, polyploidy, and genetic modification (and so much more) in the second class in our six-week Live Cannabis Breeding Program with James Loud and guest lecturer Reggie Gaudino, PhD.
Dr. Gaudino is a molecular geneticist specializing in biochemical networks in plant phytochemistry with over 20 years of experience as a patent scientist at several national law firms before transitioning to cannabis research. In 2014, he joined Steep Hill, where he leveraged his deep understanding of intellectual property (IP) to lead a team in developing the first DNA-based diagnostic assay for cannabis. His work resulted in multiple patents and paved the way for his 2019 move to Front Range Biosciences as Vice President of R&D and Director of IP. At Front Range, Reggie led a team of 20 scientists, agronomists, breeders, and growers in sophisticated breeding programs, driven by multidisciplinary scientific support, all while advancing cannabis research.
Reggie Gaudino, PhD, will cover cannabis polyploids, genetic modification, inbreeding and more.
Don’t Miss Your Chance
Don’t miss your chance to learn how to breed from the world’s greatest breeders and genetics experts, including James Loud, Arjan Roskam, Reggie Gaudino, PhD, Justin Givens, Mark Greyshock, Brian Crocket, and Dale Hunt, PhD. Enroll now and receive a free breeder’s kit from James Loud Genetics.
After completing this six-week certification program, you will understand basic botany and genetics, how to choose breeding strategies, target traits, produce unique cultivars, set up a space, build a genetic library, design a breeding space, and protect your genetics. Enroll now, Get a free breeder’s kit