Terpene Ratio Mapping

Terpene ratio mapping is a breeding and analytical methodology that documents the proportional composition of volatile aromatic compounds within cannabis cultivars. Rather than identifying single dominant terpenes, this approach measures the entire terpene profile as an interconnected chemical signature—tracking how myrcene relates to limonene, pinene, caryophyllene, and dozens of minor terpenes in specific ratios. Lineage records frequently report characteristic ratios inherited from parent plants, allowing breeders to predict aromatic outcomes across generations. This classification system has become increasingly central to cannabis genetics documentation as analytical chemistry tools have improved, shifting focus from single-terpene prominence to complete chemical fingerprinting.

Breeders working in advanced selection use terpene ratio mapping to stabilize desired aromatic profiles across multiple generations, ensuring consistency within a cultivar family. Understanding inherited ratios helps predict how crosses will perform chemically before extensive cultivation trials.