What Is the Difference Between a Cannabis Genotype and a Phenotype?

A genotype is the specific genetic information that, along with environmental factors, determines the physical characteristics of a cannabis plant. A phenotype is the physical expression of those characteristics. In other words, while a genotype represents the exact genes a cannabis plant has, its phenotype describes how those genes translate into its physical appearance.

How Many Phenotypes Does Cannabis Have?

Cannabis is a highly variable plant and can have a wide range of phenotypes (observable physical characteristics). The exact number of phenotypes is not known, as new variations and hybrids are constantly being developed. Phenotypes can be characteristics of plants of the same gene pool that exhibit noticeably different growth patterns, such as short and stout or taller and lankier.

How Many Phenotypes Can a Cannabis Strain Have?

The number of phenotypes typically available within a specific cannabis cultivar is directly related to the amount of inbreeding that has occurred. In breeding terminology, when two plants are crossed, they create what’s known as the F1 genetic line. When two F1s are crossed, they create an F2 genetic line. When breeding is done like this, it is often to isolate desired traits. The further down the genetic line, the smaller the gene pool becomes. In this way, further breeding for specific traits stabilizes the gene pool. In an F1 genetic line, there can be a very large amount of genetic variation. As the genetic line becomes more stable with further inbreeding, the likelihood of many different phenotypes being expressed from a group of seeds becomes smaller. In short, the number of phenotypes a cannabis strain can have is directly affected by the breeding procedures that took place as it was developed.

Can Cannabis Clones Have Different Phenotypes?

Clones of cannabis plants are identical genetic copies of the mother plant, and under identical growing conditions, the cannabis flower that is produced by this clone will be the same flower with the same medicinal benefits and other effects. However, if important growing conditions are changed, this can alter the chemical expression of a set of cannabis clones. For example, exposing a cannabis plant with Blueberry lineage to cool temperatures during growing often causes the leaves and flower to develop a blue or purple cast. As a result, two clones can express different physical characteristics and, thus, different phenotypes if conditions are different.

Are There Any Novel Strains?

There have been two stabilized morphologically distinct varieties of cannabis that grow unlike any typical Sativa, Indica, or Ruderalis subspecies classification. These two cannabis varieties are called "Australian Bastard Chronic" and "Freakshow." They are characterized by their completely different foliage growth, as they are visually distinct at a glance.

Cannabis Phenotypes FAQs | Genotype and Phenotype

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Danyal Swan

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Digital Content Manager for MÜV Florida and Zen Leaf Dispensaries. A cannabis connoisseur with a passion for explaining the miraculous possibility of the plant, Swan began her journey with cannabis as a recreational user and quickly realized its positive impact on her depression and severe anxiety. She joined the cannabis industry as Receptionist and MedTender and witnessed first-hand the immense potential of the plant for a wide variety of ailments, deepening her passion for alternative medicine. Swan is dedicated to self-education on the plant and sharing its potential with all. She holds a Journalism degree from the University of Iowa.

Understanding Cannabis Phenotypes

What Is the Difference Between a Cannabis Genotype and a Phenotype?

How Many Phenotypes Does Cannabis Have?

How Many Phenotypes Can a Cannabis Strain Have?

Can Cannabis Clones Have Different Phenotypes?

Are There Any Novel Strains?

Danyal Swan

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