Open Pollinated Varieties

Marijuana Horticulture

by Jorge Cervantes

Non-hybrid populations reproduced by random pollination within the variety. Al pistillate individuals have the potential to mate with all staminate individuals as the pollen spreads randomly, ensuring preservation of the genetic diversity within the breeding population.

In cannabis, open pollination is carried out by planting the breeding population together in a given plot isolated from other pollen sources and left to the will of the wind. To maintain varietal purity, hemp breeders ensure there is no non-varietal pollen source within fur miles upwind, and one mile downwind – which should demonstrate just how far cannabis pollen can travel on the wind.