Myrcene Limonene Terpene Dominance

Myrcene-limonene dominance describes cannabis cultivars where these two monoterpenes comprise a significant portion of the volatile terpene profile, often appearing as the first and second most abundant terpenes. Myrcene, a sesquiterpene precursor, is frequently the most abundant terpene in cannabis across diverse cultivars, while limonene contributes characteristic citrus and herbal notes. Lineage records frequently report this combination in cultivars descended from Indica-dominant and hybrid populations, particularly those selected for aromatic complexity. Breeders working in this category often seek stable expression of this pairing to establish consistent chemotype profiles across generations. This terpene profile is particularly common in cultivars originating from California, Dutch, and Spanish breeding programs developed over the past two decades.

Breeders track myrcene-limonene ratios as a chemotype marker during selection, as this pairing demonstrates moderate heritability and allows reproducible aromatic phenotypes across successive generations. Cultivars expressing dominant myrcene-limonene profiles are often backcrossed or selfed to stabilize the combination within seed lines and clone collections.