In the medical cannabis industry, genetic stabilization is essential for producing consistent and reliable products. Medical cannabis patients depend on specific cannabinoid and terpene profiles for their treatments, making it critical that each harvest yields plants with predictable and uniform chemical compositions. Consistency starts with consistent and uniform starting materials. Yet many companies in the cannabis industry still face challenges when it comes to maintaining stable genetics.
Carl Haffner, a consultant with extensive experience in cannabis cultivation and one of the founders of Avida Global, points out that many companies enter the industry without fully grasping the complexities of genetic stabilization. "Too many companies think they can grow consistently from seed," he says. "But there's too much genetic shift. You need to start with stable genetics and ensure they stay that way through each cycle."
Cloning vs seeds
Haffner explains that while growing from seed may seem like an attractive option, the variability it introduces can lead to inconsistencies in both yields and chemical profiles. "When you buy seeds, even if they're advertised as stable, you can still expect 5-10% genetic variation," he notes. This inconsistency poses a problem in medical cannabis, where patients expect uniformity across batches.
Cloning, Haffner suggests, is a more reliable approach to achieving genetic consistency. "Cloning is the way to go if you want stability," he says. By replicating a single plant with desirable traits, cultivators can minimize genetic drift. "You take one plant, clone it, and then compare the clones to ensure they remain as close as possible to the original," he adds. However, even with cloning, ongoing monitoring and testing are critical to catch any subtle shifts.
Haffner also advocates for tissue culture as a method to maintain genetic purity and protect against plant diseases. "Tissue culture allows you to fight bacteria and diseases that can be embedded in the plant structure," he explains. By taking small sections of a healthy plant, growers can produce thousands of genetically identical plants, reducing the risk of contamination and genetic drift over time.
From grandmothers to mothers
According to Haffner, genetic stabilization doesn't start with mother plants but with what he calls 'grandmothers,' the most important genetic source for a medical cannabis grower. "Let's say you have one strain, and you start with five seeds from five different strains," Haffner explains. "You don't know if they are related or even if they are feminized. You get them to maturity, separate the ones you want to keep, and discard the rest. Say you keep three of those seeds, and those are going to be your initial genetic source. You will clone from those three and see how they develop. Chances are high that their genetic material will slightly shift, so at some point, you will have to narrow down the clones to identify which of those 'grandmothers' have the closest genetics. After this work, you end up with two plants, two real grandmothers, which are going to be the source code of your genetics. From those grandmothers, you develop your mother plants."
The importance of keeping grandmothers next to mother plants lies in the fact that, after eight months, the genetic profile of mother plants starts to weaken and shift.
"For example, to produce 20,000 plants a month, you need around 7-800 mothers," Haffner explains. "You can't strip one mother plant too often without weakening it." Careful rotation and selection of mother plants help to maintain genetic stability over multiple generations, and this is where having a genetic source like grandmother plants comes into play. Along with this, testing, he says, is key to ensuring that the genetic profile of the plants remains consistent.
Achieving genetic stability
Haffner has seen firsthand the consequences of neglecting proper genetic management. He warns against growing multiple strains too close together, as this can lead to unwanted genetic drift. "If you have different strains in one greenhouse/grow room, they can start to mirror each other," he says. This natural genetic mixing can result in plants that no longer match the intended profile, which can be especially problematic in the tightly regulated medical cannabis market.
For companies looking to secure control over their genetics, Haffner's advice is clear: "Grow your own." He stresses the importance of cultivating from known genetic sources and maintaining strict internal testing procedures. "Too much trust is placed in outside companies providing clones or seeds," he says. "You need to know exactly where your genetics are coming from, and you have to ensure they're consistent."
As medical cannabis becomes more regulated, genetic stabilization remains a critical area for cultivators to address. Haffner emphasizes that medical cannabis is a pharmaceutical product and must be treated with the same rigor as any other medicine. "This isn't a traditional farming operation," he says. "It's about producing a consistent, medicinal product for patients. The stakes are higher, and so are the standards."
For more information:
Haffner International
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haffnerinternational.com