What are Polyploid Cannabis Plants?

The cannabis industry is revolutionizing unlike ever before. The growth is exponential, and we've seen tremendous developments in the last decade. One such development that comes to mind is feminized seeds, which guarantee female plants almost always, with rare exceptions. 

But there's a new kid in the block about to transform the industry further: polyploid cannabis plants. These plants contain more than two chromosomes in each cell, so they are usually infertile and much more potent. That's beneficial enough for us to explore this option. 

What exactly does polyploid mean and how does it affect you? Here is your guide on polyploid cannabis — everything you need to know about this potentially game-changing variety of cannabis plants. 

The Standard Genome: Diploid Cannabis 

Just like us, the cannabis plant's standard genome is diploid, i.e., each cell of the plant contains two sets of chromosomes. These small structures are made of nucleic acids that are present in the cell's nucleus, and their primary function is to store genetic information and allow the DNA to multiply or get copied during cell division, which is also called the mitosis process. 

Each cannabis plant advances ten chromosomes to its offspring, so if the offspring is diploid, it will contain 20 chromosomes. According to research, experts believe that this diploidy offers plants (and other creatures) a survival advantage. In a way, the cells possess a backup chromosome if one gets damaged, and this also allows good genes to override subpar ones. 

Diploidy also brings a few other benefits with it. For example, if the chromosomes are present in sets of two, it improves the plant's adaptability to the surrounding environment over time. Plus, when plants inherit gene sets from two parents, it also allows the plant to have genetic variability, which further improves their resistance to diseases and pests while allowing them to inherit good traits. 

While a diploid genome is standard in cannabis, not all cannabis plants are diploid in nature — most are. A few plants naturally possess more than two sets of chromosomes. However, in recent years, breeders have figured out ways to breed plants with three or four sets of chromosomes, which are known as polyploid plants. Polyploidy comes with its own sets of advantages and disadvantages.

What is Polyploid Cannabis?

Image Credit - TheDoctor

Polyploid is nothing new; this phenomenon is present in almost all species of flowering plants to varying degrees. In fact, some of the plants or agricultural crops that you consume on a daily basis are polyploids, including coffee, strawberries, potatoes, and oats. 

It's no surprise that cannabis breeders would also want to take advantage of this phenomenon. Thus, they have figured out a way to create polyploid cannabis plants, too, by increasing the number of chromosomes in the plant via crossbreeding or intervention with diploid and polyploid plants. 

Diploid vs Polyploid Cannabis 

Here are some of the major differences between polyploid and diploid cannabis plants:

Production of Biomass

Polyploid cannabis plants have more biomass and produce heavier flowers. Of course, this is a significant benefit over diploid cannabis plants because who wouldn't like bigger, bushier buds from their cannabis harvest?

Less Fertility 

The downside of polyploidy is that these plants are often infertile and cannot reproduce naturally. While this may be a downside for the plant, it again comes in handy for cannabis growers since they don't have to worry about seeds being in the flowers or accidental pollination. 

Composition of the Cell Walls 

Recent research suggests that polyploid cannabis plants have a much different composition of the cell walls than regular diploid plants. Thanks to this changed cell wall, polyploidy can affect the protein and carbohydrate levels within the cell walls, affecting the plant's tolerance to pathogens and drought. 

Biggest Potential Advantage of Polyploidy in Cannabis: Pollen Problem

We glanced over this in the previous section, but let's dive a little deeper into the industry. For starters, polyploid cannabis plants offer various advantages over their diploid cannabis counterparts, one of which is overcoming fertilization problems on a commercial scale. 

When you grow diploid cannabis plants, the plant that sprouts from the seed can either be a male or a female plant. Female plants are the ones that contain high resin levels, i.e., more terpenes and cannabinoids, whereas male cannabis plants only produce pollen. While male cannabis plants are crucial to nature, they are relatively worthless for most cannabis growers. 

There's one reason growers like to avoid male plants: they can accidentally pollinate the female plants and reduce the quality, which is why most growers don't even allow male plants to grow in their gardens and many growers even use feminized seeds that guarantee female plants almost always. 

Other ways growers work around this problem is by genetic testing before transplanting or cloning female cannabis plants. These solutions are quite effective at ensuring only female plants thrive in the garden, whether it is a hobby garden or a commercial farm. 

This is where triploid cannabis plants, a type of polyploidy, come into play. These cannabis varieties are mostly infertile and only a few of them ever produce seeds, even if they are surrounded by male plants that produce pollen. This is thanks to their odd chromosome pairing that impairs the production of seeds. 

Types of Polyploid Cannabis Plants 

Image Credit - Homegrowncannabisco

The cannabis industry has experienced massive growth in the past decade, thanks to legalization, and as more and more companies legalize cannabis, we're bound to see even more growth in the industry. And this growth is accompanied by a lot of R&D to improve the quality of cannabis products.

Breeders, seed banks, cultivators, and experts are spending a lot of effort and money into producing cannabis products that not only improve the bottom line but also satisfy the ever-growing demand for high-quality cannabis. This is why they've been able to develop plants with high THC levels, bigger buds, and more flavor and aroma than ever before. 

One of the recent developments in this context is polyploid cannabis, which experts hope will improve cannabis as a crop. So far, breeders have been able to develop two types of polyploidy in cannabis via chemical treatments and crossbreeding, such as the following:

• Triploid cannabis plants possess three chromosome sets, adding up to 30 in total; here, the offspring plant gets passed two sets from one parent and one from the other 
• Tetraploid cannabis plants, as the name suggests, possess four chromosome sets, but even though they contain more chromosomes, they are actually a precursor to the one mentioned above

What are Triploid Cannabis Plants?

Now that we know the two types of polyploid cannabis plants, let's dive deeper into each type and see how they can impact your cannabis cultivation or the cannabis industry, and the first one we'll take a look at is triploidy. 

Triploid cannabis plants contain three chromosomes as opposed to two, but these are not exclusive to cannabis species. Triploid plants are found in various species, and selective breeding has brought them to the forefront. The best examples are seedless varieties of bananas and watermelons, which are triploids in nature. They don't produce any seeds, making them easier to consume. 

Similarly, triploid cannabis varieties also contain three chromosome sets that offer similar benefits. Generally, triploid cannabis varieties produce more biomass, i.e., more leaves and stems, which can significantly increase the yield of your plants. 

Additionally, triploid cannabis plants also produce bigger flowers with no seeds almost always, making them a terrific option for cannabis growers around the world. Even your customers would love the guarantee of seedless buds, won't they?

Triploid Cannabis Traits

Triploid cannabis can occur naturally, but that's rare and the number of naturally occurring triploid cannabis plants is negligible. It's usually considered an unexpected mutation in the wild. So, if you want to create triploid cannabis plants, you first need to get your hands on tetraploid cannabis plants. You can then selectively breed this variety and choose ones with diploidy that have the desired traits. You then need to cross that diploid plant with a tetraploid plant and select a plant that's triploid in nature. 

But what kind of traits can you expect from triploid cannabis plants? Here are some of the common traits to look out for:

• The buds will be larger and flush with resin. This is because triploid cannabis plants grow larger than their regular diploid siblings, so an overall increase in the plant structure leads, including a bigger root ball, allows the plant to produce bigger and better seeds. 
• Thanks to bigger and more resinous buds, triploid cannabis plants are known to produce more cannabinoids and terpenes, making the buds even better in terms of quality. Triploid cannabis buds will have a richer flavor profile and higher potency. 
• On the flip side, triploid cannabis plants may not always grow fast. Typically, triploid cannabis plants are slow to grow. This may not be a problem for most growers, but commercial growers may find this problematic, or these plants can be difficult to maintain in regions with shorter growing seasons. 

Pros and Cons of Triploid Cannabis Plants

This brings us to the pros and cons of triploid plants. As you may have guessed already, triploid cannabis plants are a whole new world for some growers. Like their feminized counterparts, triploid plants have the potential to change the cannabis industry as we know it. 

Triploid plants don't grow seeds, grow bigger, and produce a higher quality harvest almost always. Yes, there may be some unexpected mutations, but the majority of the triploid cannabis plants show tremendous promise for growers.

However triploid cannabis plants are not without their downsides. For starters, triploid cannabis plants are usually confined in the walls of a lab for now and they haven't become mainstream as of yet. 

Plus, triploid cannabis plants are usually not fertile, so you need to maintain a steady line of clones if you want to grow triploid plants for the long term. This process will require comprehensive resources like nutrients, light, and space to sustain not just the clones but also the mother plant. 

Finally, the last downside of triploid cannabis plants is that they are extremely difficult to make. You need extensive breeding expertise and know-how of genetics to produce tetraploid plants in the first place, which can then be bred to produce triploid cannabis plants. This is possible, but for most growers, it can be difficult, realistically speaking. 

Somewhere between the benefits and downsides lie its potential for cross-breeding with diploid plants. Technically, you can cross triploid cannabis plants with diploid plants, but the results are usually subpar and not worth it. The odd pairing of chromosomes within the plant disrupts the reproductive processes, which can make them difficult to breed and they are almost always infertile — there's very little chance that they will produce seeds. 

What are Tetraploid Cannabis Plants?

Image CRedit - Frontiersin

Tetraploid cannabis plants are very similar to triploid varieties of cannabis, but these plants possess four chromosomes, two from each parent plant, instead of three as is the case with triploid cannabis plants. Since they are required for producing triploid plants, they can be considered easier to create, but the process is still difficult. 

This is why the creation of tetraploid cannabis plants is best left to the experts in lab coats, not gardeners in aprons. These experts have the resources and skills to produce tetraploid cannabis plants through the chemical intervention process. 

For example, expert breeders apply several chemical molecules to the plant, which causes the cells to multiply their chromosomes. An example of such a chemical molecule is colchicine, which occurs naturally in autumn crocus. This compound influences cell division. Another less-toxic alternative that archives similar results is oryzalin. 

Tetraploid Cannabis Traits 

So, what sets tetraploid cannabis apart from diploid and triploid varieties? It's the unique traits they produce, which are as follows:

• Tetraploid cannabis plants almost always produce unique leaf morphology; the fan leaves tend to be bigger and thicker, and the guard cells that regulate stomata are also longer and bigger 
• Tetraploid cannabis plants also produce a much higher quantity of trichomes on the buds, which produce terpenes and cannabinoids. According to some initial studies, tetraploid cannabis plants can produce up to 40% more trichomes than diploid cannabis varieties 
• The result of bigger leaves and more trichomes is that tetraploid cannabis plants produce a bigger and better yield than diploid plants; here, the buds are more resinous and potent and even bigger in size 

Benefits and Downsides of Tetraploid Cannabis Plants 

Given the unique traits of tetraploid cannabis plants, they can produce tremendous benefits for the grower. These plants promise to produce a larger yield that has a richer flavor profile and higher potency — who wouldn't like that? But this is the potential of tetraploid cannabis and they haven't found their way into local gardens as of yet, just like triploid varieties. 

You'd be lucky to get your hands on tetraploid cannabis plants unless your best friend is a scientist working on these varieties. This is where the downsides of tetraploid cannabis plants come into play.

Just like triploid cannabis plants, tetraploid varieties have a few disadvantages, starting with low fertility. Tetraploid cannabis plants are not so fertile, making them difficult to replicate using seeds. Of course, you can grow clones, but that would require extensive setup costs and commitments, which is not always possible for hobby growers. 

Additionally, tetraploid cannabis plants grow slowly, so they are not the best fit for growers who prioritize speed. Commercial growers with a quick turnaround and those living in regions with shorter growing seasons would rather grow diploid plants than tetraploid plants.

The tetraploid cannabis is niche as of now, and while we look forward to a future where these become mainstream, for now, we have to settle for this. Not many growers have even heard about tetraploid varieties, so the niche is very small. For it to become mainstream, it needs to be popular and the production processes need to become easier, so even hobby growers can take advantage of them. 

Polyploid Cannabis FAQs

Given how new this entire niche is, it's natural to have a few questions concerning polyploid cannabis varieties. So, we've put together this list of FAQs that you might have regarding this variety of cannabis plants. 

Are Polyploid Cannabis More Potent?

Yes, polyploid varieties of cannabis promise to be more potent and flavorful than their diploid counterparts. This is because these varieties often grow bigger in size and genetically produce more trichomes, especially the tetraploid variations. The result is a bigger bud with higher THC levels. 

It's important to note that the precursor plant used to produce polyploid cannabis must also support this trait. If the precursor plant is naturally low in THC and does not possess the phenotype of THC production, even the best polyploid offspring will only produce slightly higher levels of THC than the precursor. 

Can I Purchase Polyploid Cannabis Seeds?

Polyploid cannabis seeds are just on the horizon of becoming mainstream and have the potential to transform the industry the way feminized seeds did. They promise to make the task easier and simpler for cannabis growers, but there's still time before these seeds become available to the masses.

For now, polyploid cannabis varieties are exclusive to laboratories, and very few expert breeders who know a thing or two about breeding and genetics. For everyone else, polyploid seeds are not yet available.

But it's not a distant dream as of yet. Thanks to late-stage capitalism, seed banks are trying to produce varieties that are easier to grow and more potent to increase their bottom line. Remember, cannabis is a multi-billion dollar industry. And this is beneficial to us growers as it brings this to our hands. So, yes, while the seeds are not yet available, they are just over the horizon. 

Are Polyploid Cannabis Varieties The Same As Genetically Modified Cannabis and Are They Natural?

Not really. Polyploid cannabis is not the same as genetically modified cannabis or GMO. Both take a different approach to production. Biotech or GM cannabis involves DNA modification, which uses expensive and high-tech genetic engineering tech and expertise, which increases the plant's resistance to environmental risks and pests. 

On the other hand, polyploid cannabis is natural. It already occurs in the wild on its own, albeit as a mutation. However, with selective breeding and patience, you too can make your cannabis polyploid naturally, without modifying the DNA of the plant in any way. It's similar to producing F1 hybrids or inventing new strains but requires more patience and time. 

Summary: What are Polyploid Cannabis Plants?

Polyploid cannabis plants are about to change the way we grow cannabis plants. These varieties include triploid and tetraploid plants, which are typically infertile, grow a lot bigger, and produce a bigger, higher quality yield almost always. 

For now, this is limited to laboratories and experts are still working on these varieties. But it's not far-fetched to imagine a future of cannabis that is flooded with triploid and tetraploid varieties. 

These plants do have their downsides. They can't be bred like normal plants, so you need to clone them, and they are difficult to make at home unless you have an extensive commercial setup at your disposal for experimentation and selective breeding. But if things go right, these niggles won't feel like niggles when these seeds reach the masses. 

It's exciting to see such developments in the cannabis industry. Feminized seeds have already transformed the way we grow cannabis, and so have F1 hybrids. We look forward to the resurgence of polyploid cannabis plants in the near future. One year, two years, or ten — we aren't sure — but whenever that happens, be sure to try out polyploid cannabis seeds in your garden. 

You never know what might tick your fancy and help you grow bigger and better cannabis plants. But what you can do in the meantime is stay tuned to our blog. We post regular articles on growing the best varieties of cannabis plants.