Cannabinoid Terpene Ratios

Cannabinoid-terpene ratios describe the proportional relationships between major cannabinoids (THC, CBD, CBN, etc.) and volatile aromatic compounds (terpenes) within a cultivar. These ratios are documented across strain lineages and inform breeding decisions, as certain cannabinoid profiles frequently co-occur with specific terpene signatures due to shared biosynthetic pathways and genetic linkage. Ratio documentation helps breeders track inheritance patterns and predict aromatic or chemical profiles in offspring. Analysis of these relationships has become standard in cultivar development, though ratios vary significantly across growing conditions, harvest timing, and individual plant expression even within a single strain family.

Breeders working with cannabinoid-terpene ratios use them as selection criteria to stabilize desired chemical phenotypes across generations. Understanding which terpene classes associate with high-CBD or THC-dominant cannabinoid profiles allows targeted crosses to concentrate preferred ratios in seed lines.