Tetraploid vs Diploid vs Triploid: What's the Difference?
Modifying the genetics of plants has been done for decades to improve harvest times, yields, quality, and resilience. However, because cannabis cultivation has been illegal until recently, the industry is a bit behind.
In this article, we cover one of the most exciting developments in cannabis genetics – triploid and tetraploid cannabis strains. You’ll learn the role chromosomes play in plant development and how triploid varieties are revolutionizing the cannabis industry.
Cannabis Chromosomes 101
Chromosomes are small structures within the nucleus of a cell that contain genetic information. Most organisms, like humans and cannabis, have two sets of chromosomes in each cell. They store genetic information for mitosis, the process of copying DNA during cell division.
Diploid Cannabis
The standard cannabis genome is made up of plants with two sets of chromosomes, known as diploids. Each diploid plant has 20 chromosomes, ten from each parent. Plants with sets of chromosomes help specific traits survive and adapt better to their environment. Not only is there another chromosome in case one gets damaged, but plants can benefit from desirable characteristics from each parent.
If having a set of chromosomes is more desirable than one, three or four would be even better. The problem is that cannabis plants with more than two sets of chromosomes are extremely rare in nature. However, due to recent advancements in cannabis genetics, polyploidy is possible and available to growers and breeders.
Triploid and Tetraploid Cannabis Plants
Polyploid plants are nothing new in agriculture. Farmers have utilized the resilience of polyploid crops for centuries, including wheat, cotton, potatoes, and coffee. Cannabis genealogists have just recently stabilized varieties with over two sets of chromosomes through breeding diploid and naturally occurring polyploid strains.
Triploid and Tetraploid cannabis plants possess over two sets of chromosomes in each cell. As the names suggest, triploid has three sets (30 total), and tetraploid has four (40 total). Triploid cannabis plants pass on a set from one parent and two sets from the other, while tetraploid pass along two from each parent.
Advantages of Triploid and Tetraploid Seeds
More sets of chromosomes offer numerous advantages for cannabis cultivators. The plants adapt better to adverse weather, stress, and environmental conditions because of their expansive genetic profiles. Polyploid cannabis also has increased vigor, larger cell wall size, far fewer seeds, and is better for biomass production.
However, the most advantageous quality is larger yields and cannabinoid production—sometimes much, much larger. According to AgTechNavigator, farmers are reporting 50% to 100% more crops with polyploid crops.
Advanced Genetics from Trilogene Seeds
While naturally occurring triploid cannabis plants are rare, they have always existed. Today, the difference is these genetically superior varieties are available to purchase from select seed banks. However, buying triploid seeds online is an act of faith. That’s why you must only use a reputable seed bank with experience in stabilizing genetics. At Trilogene, we have been at the forefront of pushing the industry forward by embracing new genetic advancements. If you’d like to take advantage of this current revolution in cannabis cultivation, reach out or browse our menu of triploid seeds.
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