Pollination Method

Pollination method refers to how cannabis plants are bred and fertilized to produce seeds. The primary approaches include open pollination (uncontrolled, natural crossing), controlled pollination (deliberate crossing of selected parents), and self-pollination (where applicable to hermaphroditic plants). Breeders select pollination methods based on genetic goals, population size, and desired trait combinations. Understanding pollination method is essential for interpreting seed stability, hybrid vigor, and lineage authenticity in cannabis breeding records.

Controlled pollination allows breeders to intentionally cross specific male and female parents, creating predictable hybrid offspring and maintaining detailed lineage documentation. Open pollination and mass-crossing techniques are sometimes used to generate genetic diversity or preserve heritage genetics, though they produce less uniform results and complicate trait attribution.