Dormancy Physiology

Dormancy physiology refers to the metabolic and developmental mechanisms cannabis plants employ to survive environmental stress, particularly during shortened photoperiods and temperature drops associated with late-season growth. This trait encompasses seed dormancy (delayed germination under unfavorable conditions) and vegetative dormancy (growth cessation in response to cold or photoperiod shift). Breeders working with landrace genetics and cold-climate cultivars have documented varying dormancy depths—some lineages germinate immediately under any moisture, while others require extended cold stratification or specific light/temperature combinations to break quiescence. Understanding dormancy physiology is critical for seed preservation, predictable crop timing, and breeding climate-resilient cultivars. The mechanisms involve abscisic acid signaling, gibberellin regulation, and circadia

Breeders select for dormancy traits to improve seed viability during storage, control flowering onset in seasonal cultivation, and develop cultivars suited to short-season or continental climates. Predictable dormancy depth—neither too shallow nor too deep—enables reliable propagation schedules and reduces crop loss from unexpected environmental variation.