Pest Resistance Selection

Pest Resistance Selection refers to breeding programs that isolate and propagate cannabis plants showing innate tolerance or resistance to common arthropod pests—including spider mites, aphids, thrips, and whiteflies. Rather than relying on chemical intervention, breeders working in this category identify genetic markers or phenotypic traits that reduce pest pressure or damage. This trait family is often traced through landrace populations and heirloom lines that developed in regions with high pest pressure. Pest resistance in cannabis appears polygenic, meaning multiple genes contribute to the trait, making consistent selection across generations important for stability.

Breeders integrate pest-resistant parent plants into crosses to pass down defensive traits—such as trichome density, leaf texture, or volatile compound profiles—that deter or repel feeding insects. Stabilizing pest resistance in new cultivars requires multi-generational phenotypic screening under controlled pest exposure, making it a long-term breeding objective for organic and integrated pest man