ElusiveQuark
Member
Can the offspring THC level ever exceed the genetic potential maximum THC level of either parent? I.e. is there possible synergy?
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Is Maximum Potential THC Limited to Parents
- Thread starter ElusiveQuark
- Start date
ElusiveQuark
Member
So if both parents have max THC potential of 18%, offspring could show THC at 20%? That doesn't make sense to me. Why the synergistic result?
St. Phatty
Active member
Good question. Mother Nature ?
Why does the Cannabis plant produce THC, anyway ? I figure it has something to do with plant reproduction. The resin helps the pollen sacs that fall off the male, stick to the female, to dispense those last few pollen grains to the female plants pistils ?
Or ... protection from heat, or drought ?
Of course, now we have a situation where millions of breeders are picking strains for their usefulness as medicine, which in some cases may be a different goal (plant-wise) than making seeds.
I remember when 12% used to be a lot of THC.
I'm not complaining about all these 20% THC strains !
CakeMurphy
New member
Exactly. The famous DJ Short himself said some of the strongest pot he ever smoked was only like 7% thc. There is a lot to be said for cannabinoid mixtures than there is for thc-alone.
Good question. Mother Nature ?
Why does the Cannabis plant produce THC, anyway ? I figure it has something to do with plant reproduction. The resin helps the pollen sacs that fall off the male, stick to the female, to dispense those last few pollen grains to the female plants pistils ?
Or ... protection from heat, or drought ?
Of course, now we have a situation where millions of breeders are picking strains for their usefulness as medicine, which in some cases may be a different goal (plant-wise) than making seeds.
I remember when 12% used to be a lot of THC.
I'm not complaining about all these 20% THC strains !
The THC & resin are defenses against insect pests and herbivores.
ElusiveQuark
Member
WelderDan - your point is well taken re: "potency." I was wondering about the specific compound THC.
I just read an article that proposed, with respect to hybrid vigor, that growth was subject to inhibitors. And the pairing of certain alleles through hybrids reduced the the eff of the inhibitors allowing plant to realize more of its growth potential. That makes sense if applied to THC production as well. However, it does suggest that there should also be hybrid diminishment.
if you think about it, there's an obvious answer to this. if offspring could never surpass their parents, selective breeding wouldn't work.
People get hung up on THC percentage as a measure of potency, so I took it you were equating the two.
But I would assume that you can potentially see a higher THC percentage in hybrids for the very same reason you get hybrid vigor or higher overall potency.
You are crossing two differing parents, resulting in genetic combinations not seen in either parent. And those different genetic combinations would have the potential to produce offspring of higher THC content, as well as lower THC content.
Maximum potential tHc requires growing out a countless amount of seeds of a particular strain or cross and conducting lab testing on each different seed plant forever, all the while breeding the best and raising the bar on potency. Q: At what number of tested and bred samples can a particular strain reveal it's maximum tHc potential? A: Infinity. How much time ya got?
