Citral Chemotype

Citral chemotype refers to cannabis plants whose terpene profiles are dominated by citral, a terpene compound commonly found in citrus fruits and lemongrass. Citral itself exists as two isomers—geranial and neral—which together create the characteristic sharp, lemony aroma often tagged as 'lemon' or 'citrusy' in strain descriptions. Plants expressing this chemotype are typically the result of selective breeding for high citral-producing parent lines, often involving strains with strong citrus lineage records. The citral chemotype is not tied to a specific cannabinoid ratio; both high-THC and high-CBD cultivars can express dominant citral profiles. Breeders working in this category often track citral levels as part of terpene phenotyping to stabilize this trait across generations. Understanding citral chemotypes helps cultivators and breeders distinguish between aromatic profiles at the m

Breeders use citral chemotype identification to select parent plants for terpene-targeted breeding programs, ensuring offspring reliably express lemon-forward aromatic profiles. Citral-dominant lines are frequently crossed with other established cultivars to introduce or strengthen this terpene expression while maintaining desired cannabinoid and yield characteristics.