Glossary · Genetics
Phenotype
The observable traits a cannabis plant actually expresses — its height, color, aroma, and effect — shaped by both genetics and growing conditions. Growers "pheno-hunt" through many seeds of one strain to find the standout plant. Two seeds of the same strain can produce noticeably different phenotypes.
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Related terms, defined
- Genotype
- The underlying genetic code a cannabis plant carries, which sets the range of traits it can possibly express. Identical genotypes grown in different environments yield different phenotypes. Breeders manipulate genotype through selective crossing, then growers coax the desired phenotype out of it with light, nutrients, and climate control.
- Strain
- The common word for a named cannabis variety, such as Blue Dream or OG Kush. Each strain represents a particular genetic line with a recognizable aroma, effect profile, and look. Botanists prefer "cultivar," but "strain" is the term used on every menu and label in the industry.
- Cross
- The act of breeding two cannabis plants together to combine their traits, or the resulting offspring. A cross like Wedding Cake blends the qualities of its parents. Breeders cross strains to chase higher potency, better flavor, or hardier plants, then stabilize the best results over several generations.
- Landrace
- A cannabis variety that developed naturally in a specific geographic region over generations, adapting to local climate with little human crossbreeding. Durban Poison and Afghani are classic examples. Landraces are the genetic foundation of modern hybrids and are prized for stable, distinctive traits and deep regional character.