Whether you are just starting out with cannabis or you have been cultivating for a while, there are a few tips you need to know to make a male plant female. By doing so, you will be able to produce a new type of marijuana plant that will grow into a strain that you can call your own.
Pre-Flowers of Male And Female Cannabis Plants
During the pre-flowering phase of a cannabis plant, the male and female plants look nearly identical. They both produce small balls and pollen sacs. However, it is important to understand how to differentiate between these two types of plants. This can help you avoid the accidental pollination of the plant.
The difference between the two plants lies in the sex organs they have. The male plant has pollen sacs, while the female plant has pistils. Pistils are tiny hairs that stick out of the flower to attract pollen-covered insects. Pistils also hold seeds.
The male pollen sac is more spherical than the female one. The seed starts to form once the pollen reaches the white pistils. The stipules are long, pointy, and leafy.
Identifying Sex in The Early Stages of Sexual Maturity
Identifying sex in the early stages of sexual maturity of cannabis male plants can be challenging. The main problem is that it’s hard to judge the exact gender of a seedling.
Molecular markers have been developed to help with this task. One example is the PACE assay (Predictive Assays for Cannabinoid Evaluation). These tests were designed to be high-throughput, and are ideally suited for advanced production systems and breeding. They were tested on 2,170 plants from 14 cultivars. The results indicated that this assay was a good predictor of sex and cannabinoid chemtype phenotypes in C. Sativa.
Another is the CSP-1 assay. This test uses a series of publicly available sequence information to determine if a plant’s sex was based on a nonrecombining segment of the Y chromosome. The CSP-1 assay was found to be an effective sex predictor, although not completely accurate.
Using Male Plants to Breed Future Generations of Plants
Using male cannabis plants to breed future generations of plants is an important step in a breeder’s effort to produce new varieties with desirable traits. However, it can still result in yield problems.
One major advantage of breeding with male and female plants is that they can both be used to pollinate each other. This allows the grower to choose which qualities and terpene profiles are desired. It also helps to maintain specific gene pools.
The natural population of Cannabis spp is dominated by heterozygous genotypes. This is because these plants have two copies of each chromosome. Each sex cell in a plant produces an offspring that has one copy of each parent’s genes.
Molecular tools have been used to select and develop genetically desirable traits. This includes nuclear DNA haplotyping, which uses ITS1 and ITS2 regions.
Extracting Terpenes From Male Plants
Several processes can be used to extract terpenes from male cannabis plants. These include steam distillation, carbon dioxide extraction, and other methods. All of these processes require low temperatures and gentle processing.
One of the most popular terpenes is pinene, which is found in many different plants. It is a powerful antibacterial and pest-repellant. It is also said to improve alertness.
Other terpenes are known for their medicinal properties, including myrcene, which is said to help reduce anxiety. Limonene, another terpene, is often recommended as a mood elevator.
Each cannabis strain has a unique terpene profile. This allows for the production of a wide variety of cannabinoid-based products. This means that a consumer can find a terpene to match the scent and experience they are looking for.
Crossbreeding Allows You to Create a Strain You Can Call Your Own
Using crossbreeding to create a new cannabis strain can improve health and boost overall yields. It can also bring new flavor profiles, cannabinoid levels, and resistance to pests and fungi.
To achieve the most important effect, you need to find a way to introduce the most desirable traits of a parent plant into a hybrid. The best method is to select known male strains and female plants that carry desired traits. You can then combine them with other known genetics to produce a hybrid that’s more likely to pass those traits on to the next generation.
For some growers, selecting the cannabis strain with the highest THC and CBD content is a priority. Others are aiming for the most uniform growth or the quickest flowering time.
