Hermaphroditic Trait

Hermaphroditic trait refers to cannabis plants that develop both male and female reproductive organs within a single individual. This occurs naturally in some genetic lines and can also be induced by environmental stress, gibberellic acid application, or silver thiosulfate treatment during breeding work. Breeders distinguish between genetically predisposed hermaphroditism and stress-induced expression, as the two have different implications for seed production and line stability. Documentation of hermaphroditic tendency is important in breeding records to track which lineages carry higher susceptibility. The trait has been observed across multiple cannabis cultivar families and remains a subject of active horticultural and genetic research.

Intentional induction of hermaphroditism is a core technique in feminized seed production, where controlled pollen from treated female plants is used to pollinate other females. Understanding and managing herma expression is critical for maintaining stable, true-breeding lines and avoiding unwanted seed set in clone-only cultivars.