Mendelian Genetics

Mendelian genetics refers to inheritance patterns first documented by Gregor Mendel through pea plant experiments, principles that apply to cannabis breeding. In cannabis, breeders observe how traits like leaf morphology, flowering time, and cannabinoid ratios segregate across generations following predictable ratios when crossing pure-breeding lines. Understanding dominant and recessive alleles helps breeders stabilize desired characteristics and predict offspring phenotypes. However, cannabis genetics remain complex—many traits involve multiple genes (polygenic inheritance) and environmental factors that complicate strict Mendelian predictions. Breeders working with heirloom or landrace genetics often map trait inheritance to develop stable cultivars.

Breeders use Mendelian principles to design crosses targeting specific traits: selecting F1 hybrids for vigor or stabilizing F2+ generations to fix recessive traits like autoflowering or specific terpene profiles. Predictive models based on Mendelian ratios guide parent selection and help anticipate phenotypic diversity in seed lots.