Polygenic Inheritance

Polygenic inheritance describes traits controlled by multiple genes rather than a single locus, resulting in continuous variation across a population. In cannabis breeding, many commercially important characteristics—plant height, flowering time, cannabinoid ratios, and terpene profiles—are polygenic traits. This genetic architecture means offspring phenotypes typically fall along a spectrum rather than displaying discrete categories. Understanding polygenic traits requires population-level observation across many generations, as individual plant variation can obscure underlying genetic patterns. Breeders working with polygenic traits often employ selection strategies that identify and stabilize desired phenotypes across multiple growing cycles.

Breeders leveraging polygenic traits must use phenotypic selection and progeny testing to identify individuals carrying favorable allele combinations. Stabilizing these traits typically requires sustained selection pressure and larger population sizes compared to single-gene traits, making polygenic work foundational to developing commercial cultivars with consistent cannabinoid and morphological